Strikes cause gas shortage

Some gas stations began running out of fuel yesterday as drivers rushed to fill up their tanks due to fears that rolling 48-hour strikes by customs officers will lead to the country running dry. The strikes, prompted by customs officials’ fears that they are going to lose some allowances because of government plans to stop paying them from special account, began on Monday and were not expected to have any immediate impact on the availability of products on the market. Oil companies estimated that shortages of fuel would not begin for at least a week but there was a spike in demand yesterday and some gas stations had to shut. Shortages of fresh and frozen food items are not expected to begin until the end of the week, should the strike, which has prompted the anger of store owners, continue. Hundreds of trucks carrying meat, fruit and vegetables are stacking up at Greece’s northern borders, waiting for the strike to end.