Work stoppages and strikes looked set to bring the country to a virtual standstill on Tuesday and Wednesday as more and more trade unions announced their intention to participate in labour action announced by the large umbrella trade union groups in Greece, the General Confederation of Employees of Greece (GSEE) and the civil servants' union federation ADEDY.

The two union federations, which between them represent the majority of the Greek workforce, have called strikes and rallies to protest against the government plans to abolish labour entitlements, beginning with a three-hour work stoppage throughout Attica on Tuesday between 12:00 and 15:00 and a rally at Syntagma Square opposite Parliament at 13:00 the same day.

Action will escalate with a 24-hour general strike on Wednesday, which will also coincide with a nationwide media strike, and a rally on the same day at 11:00 at Pedio tou Areos in central Athens.

Hundreds of flights into and out of Athens international airport will be cancelled, as air-traffic controllers have decided to join Wednesday's strike, which will also affect hospitals and health services, public services, banks, all forms of public transport, including ferries and taxis, pharmacies, public utilities, courts and the media.

Commuters using public transport will have to work around a 24-hour strike on Tuesday, a half-day strike on Wednesday when buses and trains will operate on a shorter time-table in order to allow strikers to travel to the rally in central Athens and possibly a further 24-hour strike on Thursday.

Public transport staff are striking in protest against government plans to cut their pay and extensive staff transfers between the public transport networks. Greek Railways Organisation (OSE) trains will also not be running on Tuesday after the individual OSE unions declared three-hour work stoppages at different hours that cover almost the entire day.

On Wednesday, Athens buses and trolleys will be on the streets between 9:00 in the morning and 9:00 at night while the metro and electric railways will run between 10:00 a.m. and 18:00 p.m. OSE and Proastiako trains will not be running at all on Wednesday, while taxi drivers will hold a four-hour work stoppage between 10:00 a.m. and 14:00 p.m.

Public transport staff are also gearing up for a second 24-hour strike on Thursday, when they will also be joined by OSE and Proastiakos train staff that have already decided to strike.

The OTOE bank workers' union has announced plans to join strike action decided by GSEE and ADEDY on Tuesday and Wednesday, as have workers at the Hellenic Telecommu-nications Organisation (OTE) telecoms utility and staff in Greek courts. Pharmacists and journalists will participate in the 24-hour strike on Wednesday.

The seamen's union PNO has announced a 24-hour strike on Wednesday for all categories of ships, its 21st strike during the current year, prompting an angry reaction from ferry boat operators that accused the union "of exceeding all limits for tolerance and understanding". The association of Greek dock workers, meanwhile, extended a Tuesday work stoppage between noon and 15:00 p.m. to all ports and harbours throughout the country and will hold a 24-hour nationwide strike on Wednesday.

Unrest in Athens public transport sector

Employees of the Hellenic Railways Organisation (OSE) occupied the Organisation's mansion in Karolou street in Athens on Monday afternoon, while chaos was reported in streets around the building.

Other employees have blocked the ETHEL (Athens public bus transports) company's three big garages in the districts of Elliniko, Anthousa and Rouf and were not allowing buses out to carry out scheduled routes.
According to reports, a similar situation was being observed at trolley garages as well.
However, fixed route means were operating as normal so far.

Employees are protesting the government's plans for changes governing the organising sector for public transport, as well as changes in labour relations that will take place with a bill to be ratified in Parliament on Tuesday with an urgent process.

Aegean Airlines Wednesday flights cancelled - Tuesday's rescheduled

Aegean Airlines flights will not be carried out on Wednesday 15 December, as air traffic controllers and Civil Aviation employees will be participating in a 24-hour strike declared by the the two major umbrella trade federations GSEE and ADEDY.

Moreover, Aegean Airlines announced that flight departure hours for Tuesday 14 December have been rescheduled and specifically the flights: Athens-Thessaloniki, Athens-Milan and Athens-Tel Aviv and back. Passengers should contact the airline for more information.