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Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-05-05
CONTENTS
[01] Parliament to discuss and vote on pension-taxation reforms over
weekend
[02] Trade unions announce general strikes from Friday against planned
pension and tax reforms
[01] Parliament to discuss and vote on pension-taxation reforms over
weekend
The draft law on pension and tax reforms will be discussed by the
Parliament plenum over the weekend, with the debate starting at 10:00
on Saturday morning and end with a vote on Sunday night, as proposed
by the government. The aim is to vote the draft bill into law before
the Eurogroup meeting on Monday, sources said.
The government's proposal was approved by majority at the Conference of
Parliament Presidents on Thursday afternoon, over the objections of all
opposition parties.
[02] Trade unions announce general strikes from Friday against planned
pension and tax reforms
Greece's largest trade union organisations, including the General
Confederation of Employees of Greece (GSEE) and the civil servants' union
federation ADEDY, on Thursday announced strike action against a draft
bill on pension and tax reforms that is to be voted on over the weekend.
GSEE announced a 48-hour general strike on Friday and Saturday, accusing
the government of a carrying out a "parliamentary coup" through its sudden
decision to bring forward the debate on the draft bill forward to the
weekend using fast-track procedures. The union had already announced a
24-hour general strike and morning rally in Athens' Klafthmonos Square
on May 8 - a designated Sunday opening day for shops - to mark Labour Day.
A GSEE announcement said the planned Labour Day rallies will become
central trade union strike rallies, urging workers to participate in
force and the opposition parties to condemn the decision to bring forward
the vote.
ADEDY will also strike on the same days, alongside GSEE, urging all its
members to oppose the new measures that include VAT hikes, higher taxes
on fuel, alcohol and tobacco and additional pension cuts.
The strike action by the two umbrella trade union organisations, which
represent the majority of private and public-sector workers in Greece,
will be joined by all categories of Greek seamen, whose union federation
PNO on Thursday announced a four-day strike starting at 6:00 on Friday
until 6:00 on Tuesday, May 10. The strike is expected to affect Greek
ferry connections.
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