Greek workers go on strike at the port, transport stoppage

Описание: (1 May 2010)
Piraeus
1. Wide of moored ships
2. Various of striking workers gathered at the loading bays of moored ships in the port
3. Workers chanting
4. Wide of workers holding union flags
5. SOUNDBITE (Greek) striking port worker (name not given):
"The policies they're enacting, whose goal is to take away long-fought rights of the working class, and particularly in my country as a Greek, forces us to resist, because the prospect for improvement no longer exists."
6. Striking workers sitting in passenger waiting area
7. Striking workers blocking ship entrance
8. Reflection of workers in puddle of water
9. SOUNDBITE (Greek) vox pop, Venetia Kalapothrakou, Accountant:
"They're trying to pass very reactionary measures. They're trying to do away with all the rights we have gained through struggles in previous years."
10. Close of rope with moored ship in background
Athens
11. Various exteriors of Athens train station
12. Various of passengers entering station
STORYLINE:
Greece was bracing itself for a day of widespread industrial action on Saturday as the country's biggest unions planned a series of protest rallies to mark International Workers' Day, which is celebrated on May Day.
The rallies come amid expected drastic new belt-tightening measures to win vital rescue cash from Greece's European partners and the International Monetary Fund to avoid a disastrous debt default.
The Greek government is set to announce sweeping spending cuts through 2012, likely to raise consumer taxes, while docking pensions and public service pay, to win support for an international rescue package worth 45 billion euros (60 billion US dollars) in loans this year alone.
Unions, angry at the expected harsh austerity measures, have organised a series of May Day marches and strikes which are likely to disrupt transport services and ferries, but leave flights unaffected.
In Piraeus, the port outside Athens, striking workers gathered early at the closed port to protest the government's planned measures.
"They're trying to pass very reactionary measures," said one protester. "They're trying to do away with all the rights we have gained through struggles in previous years."
A 24-hour strike was also announced for the national railway, which was expected to force a significant reduction in the number of trains operating.
Although the additional austerity measures have yet to be announced, union leaders have already been briefed on the likely cuts at meetings with the prime minister and have expressed bitter opposition to the proposed measures.
In addition to Saturday's rallies, Greece's two largest unions have also called a nationwide general strike, set to be held on May 5.

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