Greek journalists start 4-day strike over austerity measures

Greek journalists start 4-day strike over austerity measures

2011-04-07 22:50:34 GMT+7 (ICT)

ATHENS (BNO NEWS) -- Greek journalists began a four-day media blackout on Thursday to protest job cuts and the government's austerity measures, the Kathimerini newspaper reported.

Unions representing journalists at newspapers, magazines, radio, television and on the Internet called the two consecutive 48-hour strikes after journalists and employers failed to agree on new collective contracts.

The unions said in a statement that they are asking for "the signing of satisfactory collective contracts, the safeguarding of established rights and jobs and an end to wage reductions."

Unions have been protesting for months since the government unveiled austerity measures to battle its budget deficit crisis.

In Athens, municipal workers on Tuesday clashed with police who prevented demonstrators from reaching the Interior Ministry. Workers have been occupying the City Hall for more than a week in protest at the non-renewal of their deals. The government says that the law will not be changed to allow employees on short-term deals to have their agreements renewed or made permanent.

Earlier this week, the Kathimerini reported that the government is preparing a new package of austerity measures aimed at raising 25 billion euros over the next four years.

Last year, Greece cut salaries and pensions, while raising taxes, as the country received a bailout from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund worth 110 billion euros ($150 billion) to avoid national bankruptcy.

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