Stranded Tourists In Greece

Elderly sitting on their luggage, mothers with their children, foreign tourists on vacation, drivers delivering wares… Hundreds of travelers are stranded on the docks of Piraeus port as striking port workers prevented passengers to board ship and ferries.

Dozens of port workers of PAME – Communists Trade Union – have prevented passengers to board on ships and ferries heading from biggest port of Greece to islands in the Aegean and Argosaronikos

PAME members protest over planned reforms to pensions and labor laws, as well the lifting of cabotage, allowing cruisers to dock to Piraeus, even if they do not hire a certain percentage of Greek seamen.  Protesters  will  be blocking  the departure of ferries until Wednesday  midnight. The strike has been declared ‘illegal’ by the court.
The port strike affects the vital for Greece tourist industry, which is facing already a decrease in bookings amid a huge financial crisis and recession.

Only yesterday Greece announced it will to pay extra room & board to stranded tourists. Today the first check …arrived…

http://keeptalkinggreece.wordpress.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photograph by: John Kolesidis, Reuters