Greece Grinds to Halt Amid Mass Austerity Strike
Greek Nightmare: Unemployment to Reach Rates of Great Depression
November 2, 2012keeptalkinggreece - Dramatic are the predictions about the development of unemployment in 2013, as Greece does not show signs of recovery. According to private sector union GSEE, unemployment may reach even 35% in the upcoming year, a percentage rate that was reached in the USA during the Great Depression in 1930s.
Speaking to Skai TV Savvas Robolis, scientific director of the GSEE Institute of Labour, expressed the point of view that Greece will meet the “hurricane of internal devaluation policy” with devastating impact on labour forces.
Robolis predicted that registered unemployment will climb to 29% in 2013, with actual numbers reaching 34-35%, that translate into 1.7-2 million unemployed people.
June 2012 unemployment in Greece climbed at 25.1% although traditionally the summer months lower unemployment rates due to seasonal works in tourism, construction and agriculture.
Data of Greek “registered” unemployment refer only to employees but not to self-employed or those who closed down their business, to part-time workers and labourers without insurance, a very common labour scheme since the country sought IMF aid in May 2010.
Some 4-6-week educational programs for unemployed organized by the Employment Agency (OAED) manage also to dump the real unemployment rates for a short time. Last summer, some 30,000 unemployed attended such programs and were not registered as ‘jobless’ during this time.
Real unemployment in real life is much higher than officially stated. Just take a look around you.
Greece is in the fifth year of recession, currently approximately at 7 percent.
The Great Depression was the severe economic depression and economic decline in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in 1930 and lasted until the late 1930s or middle 1940s. It was the longest, most widespread, and deepest depression of the 20th century.
The depression originated in the U.S., after the fall in stock prices that began around September 4, 1929, and became worldwide news with the stock market crash of October 29, 1929 (known as Black Tuesday).
The Great Depression had devastating effects in countries rich and poor. Personal income, tax revenue, profits and prices dropped, while international trade plunged by more than 50%. Unemployment in the U.S. rose to 25%, and in some countries rose as high as 33 percent.
Judges Ruled Upcoming Pension Cuts as “Violating Greek Constitution”
November 1, 2012
keeptalkinggreece - Greece’s Court of Auditors (Ελεγκτικό Συνέδριο) ruled as “unconsitutional” the upcoming cuts in pensons, the scraping of Christmas, Eastern and Vacation bonuses, the decreases to jobless allowances for seasonal workers, the raising of age criteria for the social benefit of EKAS and thus for all those with low income.
keeptalkinggreece - Greece’s Court of Auditors (Ελεγκτικό Συνέδριο) ruled as “unconsitutional” the upcoming cuts in pensons, the scraping of Christmas, Eastern and Vacation bonuses, the decreases to jobless allowances for seasonal workers, the raising of age criteria for the social benefit of EKAS and thus for all those with low income.
The 30 judges ruled that such cuts are contrary to Articles 2, 4, 22 and 25 of the Constitution as they conflict with the Contitutional obligation to respect and protect human dignity, the principles of equality, proportionality and the protection of labour.
Court of Auditors decisions are not obligatory for the Greek government and state, but such a ruling would open the legal way to anyone who wants to file a complaint for such cuts.
Above mentioned cuts are part of the austerity measures package of 13.5 billion euro that will be voted at the Greek Parliament next week. The ruling puts fire on the grounds of the austerity package, as these cuts would make almost haf of the austerity measures.
Τhe Court of Auditors met such a decision for the first time since the country sought international aid in May 2010 and several Loan Agreements that has sent to impoverishment millions of households.
Greece: Strike Schedule, Nov 5-7/2012
November 1, 2012
keeptalkinggreece - Greece will be on strike grip next week, as several professional groups will launch actions to protest the upcoming austerity measures package of 13.5 billion euro. The package is scheduled to be voted on November 7th. A 48-hour general strike is planned for Nov 6-7.
keeptalkinggreece - Greece will be on strike grip next week, as several professional groups will launch actions to protest the upcoming austerity measures package of 13.5 billion euro. The package is scheduled to be voted on November 7th. A 48-hour general strike is planned for Nov 6-7.
Bellow, the strike schedule as of Nov 2/12:
Public Transport
Metro, Urban train ISAP/HSAP 24h strike: Nov 2/12
Metro, Tram Urban Train ISAP/HSAP 48h strike: Nov 5-6/12
Trains and Proastiakos 48h strike: Nov 6-7/12 – No metro connection from/to Athens Airport Eleftherios Venizelos
Buses – Thessaloniki: 24h strike Nov 6, work stoppage 11 am-4 pm Nov 7
Taxi
Air Traffic Controllers, 3h work stoppage, Nov 6 from 10 am to 1 pm.
Seamen: 48h strike Nov 6-7/12
Note: depending on the strike schedule of blue buses (still to be announced) the only way for people to go to/come from the Athens Airport would be either with the bus or by private car or in arrangement with hotel. Check for updates!
Full strike schedule of Public Transport workers see here.
Others
State hospital doctors, ambulance, health centres: Nov 5-7/12 Only emergencies will be treated.
Journalists 24h strike: Nov 5/12
Banks, Post offices: 48h strike: Nov 6-7/12
Shops: 24h strike, Nov 6
Pharmacies: 24h strike Nov 7/12
