Strikes in Greece against a reform of the strike law – FashionmadeinLA

Ⓒ AFP – Louisa Gouliamaki – | Closed metro station in Athens for the 24-hour strike called this January 12, 2018 to protest against a reform of the strike law

Numerous public services in Greece were affected this Friday by a series of strikes called to protest against a reform of the strike law demanded by the country’s creditors.

Because of these protests, transports in Athens were heavily disrupted, hospitals operated with minimal services and ships were blocked at the docks.

The strikers protest against a reform that should be voted, with others, during the day in Parliament.

It provides that in order to hold a strike it must be approved in a vote by 50% of the registered members of the unions, compared to 20% currently.

Greece has experienced some 50 general strikes since the beginning of the economic crisis in 2010.

The country expects to receive 4,500 million euros (5,450 million dollars) from the current aid agreement once it has satisfied the reform demands imposed by the creditors.

This last agreement expires next August and Greece is expected to be able to refinance itself in the markets, for the first time in nine years.