Greek unions call general strike, ferry crews extend walkout

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Workers protest during the fourth day of their strike at the port of Piraeus, near Athens, on Monday, Dec. 5, 2016. Ferries across Greece are to remain tied up in ports for four days as seamen walk off the job to protest proposed tax hikes. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

ATHENS, Greece – Greece’s biggest labour unions have called a general strike for Thursday, to protest further tax hikes and labour reforms demanded by the country’s bailout creditors.

Ferry crews have also extended for another two days a four-day walkout over planned tax hikes and pension cuts, which had been due to expire early Tuesday.

The protest has disrupted life on Greece’s islands, which import key goods from the mainland, and are not all served by air.

On Thursday, umbrella unions representing public- and private-sector workers are holding a 24-hour nationwide strike against feared new income cuts, tax hikes and civil service firings.

Greece has implemented waves of spending cuts, tax hikes and reforms at the behest of its bailout creditors since 2010. In exchange, the country received vital rescue loans.

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