Greek Journalist Unions Extend Strike Till April 27

Greek journalists have decided to extend its strike protesting the government-proposed pension reforms for four days more.

ATHENS (Sputnik) — Greek journalists have decided to extend its strike protesting the government-proposed pension reforms till April 27, Greece's Panhellenic Federation of Journalists' Unions (POESY) said in a statement.

Journalists walked out on a 48-hour strike at 6:00 a.m. (04:00 GMT) on Thursday to oppose reform designed to fulfill demands put forward by the country's international lenders, stressing the need for urgent mobilization against encroachments on social welfare, pension rights and the defense of sectoral insurance funds.

"The Boards of Directors of the Panhellenic Federation of Journalists' Unions (POESY) and the Panhellenic Federation of Personnel in Press and Mass Media (POEPTYM)… decided to continue the strike in all media (brochures, newspapers, magazines, online media, broadcast media, public and private, the Secretariat General of Information and Communication — Secretariat General of Mass Media, the press agencies and ANA-MPA) from 6:00 a.m. on Sunday April 24 until 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 27, when they will meet again to decide on further action," the statement issued on Friday read.

On April 21, Georgios Katrougalos, the Greek labor minister, said that Athens and its lenders "in principle" agreed on the reform's components which means the package would be submitted to the local parliament in the coming days.

The Greek economy has been severely strained for several years due to the country’s multibillion-euro debt, accumulated after the 2008 world financial crisis.

Greece's international creditors signed an agreement with Athens last summer, approving a third bailout package worth about 86 billion euros ($97.3 billion at the current exchange rates) in exchange for highly unpopular austerity reforms, including pension cuts and tax hikes.