Public transport and other services come to a halt

Commuters in Athens faced a fresh wave of strike action on Monday as employees protested wage cuts and the government?s planned labor reserve scheme. The strike halted services on the metro, the Piraeus-Kifissia electric railway (ISAP), buses, trolley buses and the tram. Meanwhile, Intercity (OSE) train and Proastiakos suburban railway services were running on schedule, while taxi owners and drivers did not participate in the strike.

Also holding strike action on Monday were workers at penitentiary facilities who were staging a 24-hour walk-off, which will be followed by another one on Wednesday, October 12. Also on Monday, employees at the EKAB ambulance service held a stoppage from 9 p.m. to 1p.m.

Further strike action on Monday was held by local authorities employees who were set to continue their strike action until Tuesday.

Meanwhile, oil refinery employees are set to embark on ongoing starting strike action in oil refinery facilities around Greece on Tuesday, protesting against austerity measures imposed by the government. The employees have pledged to blocked oil refinery gates and halt operations beginning on Tuesday evening.

Meanwhile, customs officials are preparing for a 10-day strike starting on October 18, while the Public Power Corporation?s worker union GENOP will decide on further strike action on Monday.