Train and civil aviation employees herald protests against austerity measures

Flights are to be disrupted next week after the union representing Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority staff called a five-day walkout, starting on June 20, while employees of the Hellenic Railways Organization (OSE) are stepping up their protest action against austerity.

The action being called by OSYPA, the civil aviation staff union, is to protest the long-term lease of 14 regional airports. The government agreed to lease the airports to German operator Fraport last year and is now considering offering concessions for another 23 regional airports.

The protracted strike action is expected to affect both domestic and international flights.

Meanwhile, OSE workers are to continue with rolling work stoppages that are to culminate in a 24-hour strike on June 22.

Employees are protesting plans to privatize OSE’s operating arm, Trainose, and the government’s broader austerity program.

The action will affect the metro connection to Athens International Airport as Doukissis Plakentias station will be closed during walkout hours.

Wednesday, Thursday and next Tuesday, railway services will be suspended from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m., from 1 to 4 p.m. and from 9 p.m. until midnight.

Also, Wednesday, from 9 p.m. until the end of scheduled services, there will be no service on the Athens metro, tram and the ISAP electric railway.

Public transport staff have been holding regular strikes too in protest at the government’s privatization program, as are workers of the ports of Piraeus and Thessaloniki, which are also in the government’s portfolio of sell-offs.