Greek public sector workers strike over pension reforms

Public sector workers, including hospital staff, go on strike to protest pension cuts and tax increases sought by foreign lenders. “Our strike is just a warm-up, we will stage a 48-hour strike when the government submits the bill (to parliament) with the measures,” said Odysseas Drivalas, a leader of ADEDY, Greece’s 500,000 member public sector union. "Workers have lost almost half of their income since the crisis started, they cannot bear any more of this burden. With labour action, we can at least put pressure on them (the government)." Privatisations are part of the austerity program, and Germany is demanding 50 billion euros in privatisation revenues.