Greece Strikers Defy Court Order

VOA Breaking News (Voice of America)
January 13, 2011 at 3:23 pm

Athens bus and metro drivers went on strike against proposed transportation sector reforms and price increases in Greece Thursday, defying a court order to stay on the job.

The 24-hour strike led to traffic gridlock in the city as commuters took cars, motorcycles, bicycles or taxis to work instead of public transport.

Greece is struggling to cut its public sector costs by reforming loss-making sectors such as the state-owned public transportation companies.

Getting the nation’s debt under control is one of the economic goals Greece must achieve under the country’s $144 billion bailout loan from the EU and IMF.

Thursday’s strike was the latest in a series of public transportation strikes over the last two months as workers fight against increased ticket prices and job cuts.

A court on Wednesday declared the proposed strike illegal.