Necessary privatizations

Public transport to and from Athens International Airport on the suburban Proastiakos railway and the capital’s metro has virtually come to a halt in the last three weeks.

The reason for the transport paralysis is the rolling work stoppages and strikes by employees, who, under the guidance of their unionist leaders, are strongly reacting to the possible privatization of the public companies that employ them.

While the damage done to the country’s vital tourism sector is absolutely certain and cannot be disputed, what is also certain is that the current situation points to the depreciation of the country’s public transport companies.

Obviously this last element is of absolutely no interest to those involved in the industrial action.

Nevertheless, it is precisely this kind of behavior that demonstrates why it is vital for the Hellenic Railways Organization (OSE), the Proastiakos suburban railway as well as the metro to be privatized.