| Right-wing extremists and immigrants clash during demonstrations in Athens |
| 25 Nov 2008 |
| On 24 November 2008 right-wing extremists and immigrants clashed during a demonstration in Athens. The violence occurred during a protest against high crime rates that was taking place in the Agios Panteleimon neighborhood. Police officers were forced to use tear gas after other demonstrators attacked immigrants; officers quickly regained control of the situation. Several injuries were reported; however, none of them were severe.
|
| Childcare Centers planning to stage a protest in Athens |
| 11 Nov 2008 |
| The Greek Union of Childcare Centers is reportedly planning to stage a protest in Athens on 10 November 2008, which may affect traffic in the city. The protesters plan to form a line of 200 buses along Kavalas Avenue next to the Sarakakis building, on Syngrou Avenue near the Ledra Marriott Hotel, on Vouliagmenis Avenue next to the First Cemetery and near the Pedion tou Areos Park. They will then travel to Syntagma Square. The action is being organized to protest the government's refusal to allow the union to operate kindergartens. |
| Olympic Airlines workers to stage 1 day strike |
| 30 Oct 2008 |
| Workers at Olympic Airlines are staging a one-day strike on 30 October 2008 to protest a government proposal to privatize the carrier. In anticipation of the action, the airline canceled approximately 100 domestic and international flights. The action is affecting flights from Athens to London, Rome, Frankfurt, Brussels and Paris, among other locations. Thousands of workers staged a protest at Athens International Airport (LGAV/ATH) during the strike, blocking one of the airport’s two runways. Flights were diverted to the second runway during the action. A similar protest involving hundreds of workers took place on 29 October. Participants marched onto a taxiway, but there were no reports of significant disruptions to airport operations. Protesters did, however, scrawl graffiti on an aircraft owned by the company that will handle Olympic Airlines' assets during the proposed privatization.
Meanwhile, additional work stoppages in the transportation sector are taking place on 30 October, including a one-day strike by the Athens Metro and a three-hour strike by the national rail service. Travelers and residents should anticipate transportation disruptions.
|
| Strike causes significant disruption |
| 21 Oct 2008 |
| As previously reported, hundreds of thousands of Greek public and private sector workers are staging a nationwide one-day strike on 21 October 2008 to protest the government's economic policies. The work stoppage is causing significant disruptions to air, rail and ferry services. Approximately 200 flights were canceled as a result of the strike, and most train and ferry services were halted. In Athens, workers staged two separate large-scale demonstrations. While the first occurred without incident, the second turned violent. Groups of protesters hurled rocks and broke shop windows, prompting anti-riot police officers to fire tear gas to disperse the demonstration. There were no immediate reports of injuries or arrests.
|
| Greek workers are staging a one-day nationwide strike on 21 October 2008 |
| 20 Oct 2008 |
| Greek workers are staging a one-day nationwide strike on 21 October 2008 to protest the government's economic policies. The work stoppage is expected to cause significant disruptions to air and ground transportation, as well as banking services. Air traffic controllers are planning to join the strike for four hours, resulting in the suspension of most air traffic. In anticipation of the action, Olympic Airlines canceled 75 flights and Aegean Airlines canceled 46 domestic flights scheduled to operate to and from Athens. Public transportation in Athens -- including subway, tram and urban electric railway services -- will be suspended between 0500-0900 and 2100-0000 local time. Bus services will also operate on a limited schedule. Meanwhile, traffic disruptions are likely as the result of a large-scale rally at the Pedion tou Areos park that is set to begin at 1100 local time.
|
| Demonstrating workers briefly block runways at Athens Airport |
| 14 Oct 2008 |
| Workers demonstrating over the proposed sale of Olympic Airlines briefly blocked both runways at Athens International Airport (LGAV/ATH) on 14 October 2008, causing minor disruptions to flights. Aircraft approaching the facility were forced to circle the airport as a result of the protest, which lasted approximately 10 minutes. There were no reports of arrests. The action was part of continued protests over a government proposal to privatize Olympic Airlines and other state-owned enterprises.
|
| 24-hour general strike against government privatization plans is underway |
| 08 Oct 2008 |
| 24-hour general strike against government privatization plans is underway on 8 October 2008. The General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE), the country’s largest union, organized the strike, which reportedly was observed by approximately 100,000 workers. The action resulted in disruptions to media, medical, rail and aviation services. Olympic Airlines canceled approximately 100 domestic and international flights. Significant traffic disruptions were reported in Athens due to the shutdown of metro, state railway and city bus services. In addition, approximately 3,000 people staged a march around the Parliament building in Athens. Additional protests are planned, as well as a nationwide general strike on 21 October.
|
| Public sector workers to stage a one-day strike on 8 October |
| 07 Oct 2008 |
| Greek public sector workers will stage a one-day strike on 8 October 2008 to protest the privatization of state-owned enterprises. In anticipation of the work stoppage, Olympic Airlines has canceled 100 domestic and international flights scheduled for 8 October. The strike is also expected to result in the shutdown of subway services in Athens. In addition, tram services will be halted between the hours of 0800-1000 and 2000-2200 local time, and trolley services will be halted for four hours beginning at 1100 local time as a result of the work stoppage, which was organized by the General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE). Intercity trains are also expected to experience service disruptions.
|
| Athens suffers power outages & blackouts |
| 25 Jun 2008 |
| Power outages and blackouts were reported throughout much of Athens on 25 June 2008 as a result of a wildfire. The fire began in the Glyka Nera area, located approximately 12 mi/20 km east of Athens, and damaged power lines supplying electricity to the capital; several power networks were also forced to shut down. Firefighters are working to extinguish the blaze, but thus far it has not been contained and there is a potential for it to spread due to strong winds in the area. Thus far, there have been no reports of disruptions at Athens International Airport (LGAV/ATH). Wildfires have also been reported in Agios Stephanos, and area located north of Athens, and on the island of Aegina.
|
| Earthquake strikes city of Patras |
| 09 Jun 2008 |
| An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 on the Richter scale struck near the city of Patras in southern Greece at approximately 1525 local time (1225 UTC) on 8 June 2008. The earthquake was felt in Athens, located approximately 128 mi/205 km east of the epicenter. Two people were killed by the quake, and more than 150 others were injured. Minor damage was reported in Patras and surrounding villages, where older houses and other buildings collapsed. The highway from Athens to Patras was briefly shut down after a landslide blocked the road. Dozens of aftershocks have occurred near the epicenter, and more are expected in the next two to three days |
