Greek Journalist Unions Announce Strike Action Against Pension Reforms

ATHENS (Sputnik) — Greek journalists are set to hold a 48-hour strike in protest of the government-proposed pension reforms, Greece's Panhellenic Federation of Journalists' Unions (POESY) said Monday.

The Greek government is expected to submit pension reform legislation to parliament this week in order to fulfil demands out forward by the country's international lenders. Meanwhile, negotiations between the Greek government and four of its international and European lenders have been suspended for a week on April 12 without reaching agreement.

Journalists will walk out on strike at 6:00 a.m. (04:00 GMT) on Thursday and resume work at the same time on Saturday, according to the federation's statement.

All Greek printed and electronic publications, as well as the government's Secretariat General of Information and Communication, the Athens News Agency and press services across the country will stop working, the statement said, adding that employees of television and radio broadcasters, both public and private, will strike between April 22-24.

The federation stressed the need for urgent mobilization against encroachments on social welfare, pension rights and the defense of sectoral insurance funds.

The Greek economy has been severely strained for several years due to the country’s multibillion-euro debt, accumulated after the 2008 world financial crisis.

Greece's international creditors signed an agreement with Athens last summer, approving a third bailout package worth about 86 billion euros ($97.3 billion at the current exchange rates) in exchange for highly unpopular austerity reforms, including pension cuts and tax hikes.