The Greek members of Parliament have adopted yesterday evening a very controversial measure, by a 154 to 141 vote, that affects the right to go on strike in the country.
Already overwhelmed by many fiscal crises in recent years, Greece must continually face new austerity reforms proposed by its government. This time, the population and more specifically the trade unions, are indignant against this new reform that affects the right to strike. The new law provides that half of the members of a given union can be present during a demonstration, against a third before. Enough to anger the members of the PAME, a powerful Greek communist union.
The government claims that this new law does not in any way limit strikes but rather encourages workers to become more involved in their union’s activities. Trade unions, for their part, find this law aberrant because members of the same union dwell in several regions of the country and cannot travel simultaneously for rallying in the capital.
The new law not only affects the right to strike but also reforms family allowances. These changes triggered many demonstrations in Athens and public and air transports were severely disrupted. The country has been experiencing this kind of upheaval for almost 8 years now and it is not ready to end. Greek citizens should expect further reforms coming from their Parliament very soon.
Déborah Miller
For further informations :
« Manifestations en Grèce après le vote de nouvelles réformes » Le Monde, 2018, consulted online on 16/01/2018, http://www.lemonde.fr/europe/article/2018/01/16/les-deputes-grecs-adoptent-des-reformes-voulues-par-les-creanciers_5242180_3214.html
« Grèce : grèves et manifestations contre une réforme exigée par les créditeurs », AFP, 2018, consulted online on 16/01/2018, https://www.romandie.com/news/Grece-greve-et-manifestations-contre-une-reforme-exigee-par-les-crediteurs/880093.rom
« Grèce : la restriction du droit de grève adoptée malgré les manifestations », RFI, 2018, consulted on 16/01/2018, http://www.rfi.fr/europe/20180116-grece-restriction-droit-greve-adoptee-malgre-manifestations
