Transport workers strike in Greece
ATHENS, Greece — Austerity-weary Greeks lashed out today against more tax hikes and pension cuts with a new round of strikes, with public transport workers, taxi drivers, teachers and air traffic controllers walking off the job.
The strikes come a day after the government announced yet another round of spending cuts, including plans to suspend 30,000 civil servants as it scrambles to keep international bailout payments flowing and soothe global market fears that Greece will default.
Without continued payments from a $150 billion program of rescue loans from eurozone countries and the International Monetary Fund, the heavily indebted eurozone member will run out of cash by mid-October.
Athens has lagged behind savings and revenue targets set in its bailout agreement, angering international debt inspectors who threatened to halt the loans.
The inspectors are due back in Athens next week to complete a review on whether Greece has done enough to be granted the next installment of the bailout loans.
