The Greek working class closed down that country for 24 hours on Feb. 13 to protest another attempt by the right-wing capitalist state, run by Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis, to weaken the country's pension system.
Karamanlis wants to reduce benefits and extend the working age past 65 (men) and 60 (women) despite the fact that he won re-election last year after pledging to do neither.
It appeared to be the typical politician's ploy of promising one thing to get elected and then reneging.
The two big unions, General Confederation of Greek Workers and Civil Servants’ Union, succeeded in closing down the banks, hospitals, airports and public services in a massive general strike to protect their retirement rights. This is the second walkout in two months.
According to the New York Times, the leader of the GCGW said, “We won’t accept attempts to capsize the pension system. We won’t accept pension changes that hurt the young, women and workers in heavy and arduous industries.”
The Greek pension system is considered one of the best in the EU for workers, so naturally the capitalists want to reduce the benefits it provides – more profits for them.
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development claims that the system MIGHT in the future (15 years down the line) cost too much.
Lots can happen in 15 years, what’s the rush? Is the right afraid a more worker friendly future government won’t slash people's benefits? Their excuse, based on the OECD data, is that they must prevent big deficits that could threaten to become an excessive drag on a future government.
The answer to that is not to stick it to the workers, say the unions, but to increase the tax on the big monopoly corporations operating in the country and effect massive revenue savings by withdrawing the country from NATO and no longer playing the role of American puppet.
