Second general strike hits Greece

The two main Greek union confederations, GSEE and the public sector ADEDY, called a general strike on 15 March which brought much of the country to a standstill.

The unions are protesting against government plans to reduce employment protection, particularly in the public sector, and to extend privatisation.

They are also pushing for significant pay increases in the current negotiations on the national collective agreement, which sets the minimum wage, as well as providing a framework for industry-level bargaining.