General strike in Greece on September 26
Flight disruptions, fuel station closures and reduced health service at hospitals were numbered among the consequences of the general strike called for September 26 2012 by Greece’s two largest unions against the country’s new planned spending cuts of 11.5 billion euro.
Traffic disruptions were expected in Athens and Thessaloniki because of planned marches while media reports said that there were concerns that the public protests could turn violent.
The 24-hour strike, which will also affect a wide range of other services including banks, universities and schools, is the first since the current coalition government came to power in June.
The 11.5 billion euro savings are a pre-condition to Greece receiving its next tranche of bailout funds, without which the country could face bankruptcy in weeks, the BBC said.
Greek daily Kathimerini said that intercity train, Proastiakos suburban railway and ferry services will be halted, though the ISAP electric railway and the metro will be operating as usual, with the exception of the metro’s Doukissis Plakentias -Athens International Airport route, which will be suspended.
Trolley buses and blue buses will be running limited services from 9am to 9pm.
(Photo: Clive Leviev-Sawyer)
