Greek media workers go on strike over wage cuts, layoffs

Their moves are in protest of a fresh wave of wage cuts, mass layoffs and the "dismantling" of labor regulations in the sector which has been hit hard by the financial crisis.

Protesters gathered in central Athens outside the Athens Daily Newspaper Journalists' Union (ESIEA) headquarters and marched to the parliament, as state media remained shut down for 24 hours for the 8th consecutive day and employees in privately owned media joined in with a work stoppage on Monday noon.

The Panhellenic Federation of Journalists' Unions (POESY) which called for Monday's protest, demands the suspension of new layoffs and wage cuts in the news market and the signing of collective labor contractss with publishers.

The ongoing debt crisis which started in 2009 in Greece has hit hard Greek media as most sectors of Greece's economy. With advertisement revenues slashed, even leading media outlets struggle to overcome current difficulties, reducing costs and job positions.

According to estimates, approximately 3,000 press employees have been laid off over the past three years, as print and electronic media companies closed and employers push for 10 to 20 percent reductions in salaries.

As record high unemployment rates over 26 percent and a deep six-year recession grip the debt-laden country, raising banners with anti-austerity slogans, protesters on Monday shouted "enough is enough."

Unionists and striking journalists explained that the "medieval conditions" in the media sector not only "strangle" low-wage earners and their families, but are also a threat to the freedom of Press and democracy.

Greeks have been strongly protesting the austerity drive introduced by the government since 2010 under bailout deals with international creditors who provide multi-billion euro rescue loans in return of tough wage and pensions cuts, tax hikes and structural reforms.

The measures imposed to slash deficits and restore growth to avoid a Greek default and exit from the euro, have crippled standards of living, fuelling reactions.

The two main unions of private and public sector workers General Confederation of Greek Workers and the Civil Servants' Confederation have called for a new nationwide general strike later on February 20 to protest the policies.

In late February, European Union and International Monetary Fund auditors are due back in Athens to assess the progress achieved over the past few months and discuss with Greek state officials the next steps in the framework of the stability and growth program to exit the crisis.