Greece’s two main journalists unions, the nationwide umbrella organization (POESY) and the more influential Athens Journalists’ Union (ESEIA), on Thursday called for a 48-hour strike to commence on Friday morning at 6 a.m. (local time) and end at 6 p.m. on Sunday.
The industrial action coincides with other declared strikes by unions representing private and public workers in the country, and comes in reaction to a draft bill envisioning pension reforms aimed at reducing the Greek state’s expenditures for the social security system.
The journalists’ unions are particularly opposed to the elimination of a self-financed primary pension fund and its merger -- reserves included -- with a “supra-fund”, as cited in the draft bill.
Nevertheless, the strike action has also generated criticism by mass media outlets and individual media professions due to the fact that coverage of Parliament debate on the contentious bill and other related issues will be non-existent for two days.
