ATHENS - plan Greece's trade unions to meet a storm that mixt protests this week as the Socialist Government, obligations to slashing its budget deficit by 2011 and overhaul of the country's labour laws and unprofitable State-owned enterprises.
From Monday, public transport have workers swore a number of work stoppages and 24-hour strikes through the week, which is expected to bring traffic in the capital.
Bank are air traffic controllers at the same time, workers, journalists, State television employees and people in separate errors this week and Greece of the two largest unions join - GSEE private and public sector ADEDY - is a 24-hour general strike keep Wednesday.
"We are striking to protest the denigration of the rights of workers and a very hard and unfair budget which will worsen only the current recession," said Stathis Anestis, spokesman for umbrella Union GSEE. "We expect, it becomes a huge protest Wednesday because the labour movement is facing great provocation."
Under the conditions of a multiannual, 110 € ($ 145.51 billion) bailout signed may of this year, Greece promised his international lenders to adopt a number of economic changes while also cut its budget deficit by 15.4% of GDP in 2009 to less than 3% by 2014.
Household 2011 22 December, be adapted to the Government to the deficit to two percentage points of GDP, or about 5 billion euros to reduce to a targeted 7.4% of GDP. Many fear the series of tax rises and Greece already sputter economy further will charge expenditure involved.
Greece is the second year of a protracted recession, with the latest data, showing a decrease of 4.6% year to year in the third quarter GDP and unemployment rises to 12.6% of the workforce by 9.6% a year ago.
On Tuesday the Government also plans a deeply unpopular omnibus Bill slash State enterprise costs and liberalisation labour law enforce. The invoice which will be coordinated under express parliamentary procedures has drawn sharp protests by opposition parties and even some grumbling from Socialist Backbenchers.
Including the invoice is Cap salaries and bonuses for 52 State-owned enterprises - range slash gambling OPAP SA, bus and trolley company, the service greater Athens of the company from Greece monopoly.
A change of the previous labour market changes that would allow businesses facing financial difficulties, lower salary packages as collective through sectoral agreements regulated to negotiate is included in the legislation.
Unions say the change that leads to to the repeal of the collective wage agreements - now govern almost half of Greece 4,5 millions strong work force - during the Communist Party, laboratory says overhaul the Government leads the country back in the dark ages.
Even so, few expect the Government secure off of the reforms its lenders, the International Monetary Fund and the European Union that are seen as a precondition for Greece received fourth tranche of its 110 billion euro loan next spring promised.
"The Government is determined to pursue these reforms and the trade unions do not represent broader public opinion", said a person close to the Government.
For one thing, nor Socialists control of a comfortable majority in Greece's 300-member of the European Parliament where you keep 157 seats. And the latest opinion polls show the ruling Socialists new democracy leads by a healthy margin of nine percentage points above the main opposition party.
Strikes, come as Greece's hit hard to raise buyer sales after a disappointing year hope retailers and small businesses for Christmas.
According to data from the country's merchants' Association, 20% of the retailers in Central shopping area have closed this year already, and some go 4,000 companies bankrupt every month.
"With this strikes it yet another difficult week for the Greek economy," said Constantine Michalos, President of the Chamber of Commerce of Athens and industry. "But the strike will not manage to change government policies."
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