Trade unions: ‘20% of employed Greeks live below the poverty line’

Ahead of the European Council in March 2014, the European trade unions stressed out that austerity implications, with wages falling by up to 23% across the EU.

They mentioned the poverty growth and the over-taxation of workers, calling on citizens to vote for a “social Europe” on the European elections in May 2014.

In Greece, civil servants started a new 48-hour strike on the 19 March 2014 directed mainly at the government's continued austerity course. Employees were seen to be unwilling to accept massive layoffs as planned by Athens.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: European Council, Brussels, 20-21 March 2014 http://www.europeansources.info/record/european-council-brussels-20-21-march-2014/

ESO: Background information: Persistent unemployment poses a substantive threat to democracy in Southern European countries http://www.europeansources.info/record/persistent-unemployment-poses-a-substantive-threat-to-democracy-in-southern-european-countries/

ESO: Background information: Press Release: Sixth Activity Report of the Task Force for Greece: stepping up implementation / Greece secures latest slice of EU-led bailout funds http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-sixth-activity-report-of-the-task-force-for-greece-stepping-up-implementation-greece-secures-latest-slice-of-eu-led-bailout-funds/

Deutsche Welle, 19.03.14: Greek public sector workers launch two-day strike action over austerity http://dw.de/p/1BSRv

Euronews, 20.03.14: Greece: public sector workers strike over job cuts http://www.euronews.com/2014/03/20/greece-public-sector-workers-strike-over-job-cuts/

---