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Greece's Papandreou Orders Truckers Back to Work as Fuel Supplies Dwindle
Greece’s government ordered truck drivers back to work after talks deadlocked in a bid to end a strike that has led to nationwide fuel shortages.
Prime Minister George Papandreou gave the order today after taking into consideration the “serious upheaval to the country’s social and economic life and the serious risk to public health from the lack of adequate supplies to citizens of fuel, food and medicine,” according to a statement posted on the press ministry’s website. Continuation of the strike would threaten the normal functioning of health and welfare services and public order, the statement said.
Around 33,000 licensed truck drivers began an indefinite strike on July 26 to protest against government plans to open up the freight industry and issue new licenses. The changes are a requirement of a 110 billion-euro ($143 billion) loan package from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund. Talks today between the government and representatives of the strikers failed to produce an agreement.
Under the order, the owners and drivers of trucks must resume work or face penalties. The transport and finance ministries, as well as local governments were given the power to requisition vehicles and services “and to take any further necessary measure to ensure the public good.”
Truckers called on the ministry to delay the introduction of a bill, planned for this week, until September to allow for more talks between the government and the industry. The request was refused.
Under Increasing Pressure
Papandreou is under increasing pressure from businesses, particularly in the tourist industry, to curb the effects of the strike. SETE, the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises, yesterday called for action against continual labor action -- such as a work-to-rule by air-traffic controllers this week -- that is hitting tourism as it reaches its summer peak.
The truckers’ strike “is a huge problem for bookings that our country needs to cover part of the losses that have occurred over the past months,” Andreas Andreadis, president of the Greek Hotel Federation, told the Flash radio station today.
Ta Nea newspaper reported that no fuel was available on the island of Rhodes, and tourists were leaving rented cars by the roadside when they became stranded without fuel.
Papandreou’s austerity measures have sparked strikes and protests from groups ranging from dockworkers to lawyers. Tourism contributes 16 percent to the country’s economy and accounts for one in five jobs, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council, an industry group.
To contact the reporters on this story: Maria Petrakis in Athens at mpetrakis@bloomberg.net; Paul Tugwell in Athens at ptugwell1@bloomberg.net.
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