ATHENS (Sputnik) — The Panhellenic Railway Employees Association (POS) launched Tuesday a new wave of strikes across Greece against privatization of railway transport.
Railway employees are protesting against privatization of the TrainOSE railway company and train maintenance company ROSCO.
"We are standing in front of a tragic moment. Privatization is coming to change our life, life of the whole society. The government defiantly and shamelessly gives away the national wealth," POS said in a statement.
Starting from Tuesday, railway staff will stage three-hour strikes three times a day. The actions are expected to seriously disrupt rail services across the country. There will be no strikes on July 1–4, followed by a 24-hour strike on July 6, when the tender for the sale of TrainOSE and ROSCO is due to take place.
Last summer’s multibillion-dollar bailout deal to revive the ailing Greek economy stipulates the privatization of a number of Greek public assets, including its rail infrastructure, among other austerity measures.
