No ferries for two days and seamen walk off the job

Ferries will remain docked in ports across Greece on Friday and Saturday as seamen stage a 48-hour strike in protest at the latest round of cuts to pensions and job insecurity.

The union representing Greek seamen, PNO, has warned of an escalation of action if the leftist-led coalition government does not address its concerns regarding planned changes to special tax regulations relating to workers in the sector.

The seamen's union has planned a 24-hour strike for Thursday, December 8, too.

The umbrella union representing Greece's private sector workers, GSEE, has also called on its members to strike on December 8 to protest the government's ongoing austerity drive.