Strike!

It has been a general strike here in Greece today. There was a rally due in the centre of Chania at 10am, and we duly played our part by resolutely staying indoors and not actually finding out what was open and what wasn't.

The strike is over pension reform. Not the policies of the reform, just the discussions leading up to the formation of the policies. Like most European countries, Greece has a problem in that declining birth-rates and longer life-expectancy mean there is a pensions crisis.

Also like most European countries, in order to avoid committing electoral suicide, the Government has promised there will be no cuts in pensions, nobody will have to work longer, and contributions will not rise. To my mind, if you can't play with those three variables, it somewhat reduces the scope of what you can actually achieve.

Those opposing reform point out that the pensions wouldn't be in such a bad way if the Government did something to cut down on payment evasion, which is reckoned, by some sources, to be running at 25%. There is also the small matter of the Government itself owing the funds something like €1.5 billion in unpaid contributions.

The general strike is the latest in a series of strikes over the issue. One of the Government's proposal is that instead of hundreds of different pension funds for all sorts of different professions, there should just be 5 or 8 big funds, made by amalgamating them. This has caused outrage, and has seen lawyers, journalists and teachers on the streets striking in the last month. They don't want their pension fund money being combined with other funds which might not have performed so well. It is a funny old business, people always seem less keen on policies that involve the re-distribution of wealth when it is their own wealth that is being re-distributed!

Some of the TV channels have been off air for periods of the day, although it hasn't been all bad, some of the regular programming has been replaced by Fawlty Towers and The Office, which we've never seen listed in the schedules. I'm not holding out much hope for getting to see the Champions League games this evening though...

Comments

[Martin Belam]

Actually, NET did show Rangers-Lyon, but without any commentary or studio teams in action