Greece gridlocked during strike over social security reforms

Описание: (18 Jun 2002)

1. Exterior Athens International Airport terminal
2. Wide pan of check-in area
3. Close up departures board
4. Passengers looking at board
5. Wide shot passengers and board
6. Woman sleeping
7. Pan of people waiting, person sleeping
8. Various of traffic jams caused by strike
9. Pan ferries in dock at Piraeus harbour
10. Wide shot ferries in dock at Piraeus harbour
11. Ferry
12. Woman sitting in sun
13. Pan to Athens metro entrance
14. Metro sign
15. Barricade down in metro area
16. Pull focus on metro sign
17. Wide shot banner on building which says in Greek: ''You must take back the anti-democratic law that destroyed social security rights'
18. Wide shot march on parliament
19. Protesters with banner
20. Marchers chanting
21. Wide shot march
22. SOUNDBITE (English) Antonis Birbilis, General Secretary of Greek PTT workers and employees union:
"We have a strike today, all Greece is on strike because the social system, the social security system is now in the parliament being voted. We hope that the government will take seriously this strike and remove the plan that they have so the social system of security will be as the syndicates (unions) want."
23. Low shot of march

STORYLINE:

Thousands of striking workers gathered in front of parliament on Tuesday as lawmakers planned debate on proposed social security reforms strongly opposed by Greece's powerful unions.

At least 5,000 protesters joined the rally in central Athens during a 24-hour nationwide strike called by Greece's largest civil servants' union.

A five-story banner covered the front of the national economy ministry building demanding lawmakers kill the "anti-labour" bill, which includes pension cuts and an increase in the minimum retirement age to 65.

The strike halted public transportation and many flights and ferry services around Greece.

The sweeping reform proposals also loom as a major test for the embattled Socialist government, which has long counted on strong support from labour groups.

A vote on the plan is possible later this week.

The government claims the reforms are needed to keep the social security system from bankruptcy in a country with an aging population and low birth rate.

Union leaders have a variety of demands, including pensions after 35 years of work regardless of the workers' age.

Under the current system, for example, some women with children can receive state retirement benefits at age 55.

State hospitals and ambulance crews operated with emergency staff. State-run schools, municipalities, ministries and tax offices were closed.

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