Greek ferries tied up in port due to seamen's strike

Ferries to and from the Greek islands are tied up in port due to a 24-hour strike by seamen protesting reforms to their sector.

Wednesday's strike severed ties between Greek islands - and between the islands and the mainland - until 6 a.m. Thursday.

The seamen's union, the Panhellenic Seamen's Federation, called the strike to protest pension cuts, poor working conditions and reforms which would open domestic sea transport to non-EU flagged ships. It called for new collective labor contracts with pay rises, and for the prompt payment of salaries already owed to seamen.

Only the larger Greek islands have airports, and sea transport is the only link that many of the 200 inhabited Greek islands have with the mainland for the transport of people and goods. [AP]