ATHENS – Thousands of striking Greek civil servants marched yesterday to protest against austerity measures, warning of a social explosion if the government agreed further cuts in aid talks with the EU and International Monetary Fund (IMF).
More than 10,000 civil servants and students marched to parliament, calling for cutbacks to be scrapped, beating drums and chanting: “No more illusions, war against the rich”.
Nurses, teachers, tax officials and dockers stopped work during the 24-hour strike, which paralysed public services, while EU and IMF officials met in Athens for talks that could lead to a financial bailout for Greece.
Workers are protesting against public wage cuts, a pensions freeze and tax hikes imposed by the government to try to pull Greece out of a fiscal crisis that has shaken markets worldwide and driven the country’s borrowing costs to a 12-year high.
Participation in the march was not larger than previous times but unions, workers and analysts said anger was building up and warned of the risk of social unrest.
The public wants to see corrupt politicians and tax evaders behind bars and believes more measures would mean their sacrifices so far are in vain. “People are asking for blood,” said Alco pollster Costas Panagopoulos. “They need someone to be punished for what is happening.”
Polls show Greek prime minister George Papandreou still enjoys support but most believe the austerity measures are unfair.
Analysts say that if the government’s efforts do not seem to be putting Greece on the right path and more steps are needed, there will be heated reaction come autumn. “I am really afraid there may be social violence, extreme reactions,” Mr Panagopoulos said.
Public sector union Adedy, which represents 500,000 workers, warned of more protests after staging its fourth nationwide strike this year. Private sector union GSEE has said it will go on strike in May.
“We expect a social explosion some time soon,” said Adedy secretary general Ilias Iliopoulos. “The possibility of the IMF asking for more measures will trigger this.”
Many in Greece fear strings attached to the €40 billion to €45 billion aid package, if the cash-strapped nation decides to tap it, will hit living standards in a country where one in five lives below the poverty threshold.
Some bystanders showed no sympathy for the strike, saying the government had no choice but to enact austerity measures and tap the aid package after the yield on Greece’s 10-year bond jumped to 8.8 per cent yesterday. “We are so indebted that we can’t make it on our own any more. We need to have someone to check on us,” said pensioner Dimitra Vassiliou.
Estimates of the level of participation in the public sector strike varied widely. – (Reuters)