Greece’s Ruling Party Calls for National Strike Against Austerity Policies

Greece's ruling Syriza party's labor policy department on Wednesday urged the Greeks to take part in a general strike on November 12 against the "anti-people" austerity policies of the government.

ATHENS (Sputnik) — Under the agreement with Greece’s international creditors signed by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, Greece committed to austerity measures and to coordinate its actions in the economic sphere with its lenders in exchange for a 86-billion-euro ($94.8 billion at the current exchange rate) aid program.

"Everyone should join the strikes and rallies on November 12. We are fighting for our rights in the fields of work, insurance and decent life," Syriza's labor policy department said in statement Wednesday.

The department called on all working, unemployed, retired or young Greek nationals to take part in the 24-hour general strike announced by the trade unions.

"Say 'no' to austerity policies in Greece and in Europe," the statement said.

According to the statement, amid negotiations with creditors, the demands of the workers and their united mobilization was of particular importance and should be used "against neo-liberal policies and blackmail of financial and political centers in Greece and abroad."

The Greek economy has been badly strained for several years amid a multibillion debt accumulated by previous governments.