Greek taxi drivers disrupt tourists in mass deregulation strike protest

Thousands of holidaymakers affected as 2,000 taxi drivers block Piraeus and Patras ports, Athens airport and tourist sites Greek taxi drivers protesting against the liberalisation of their profession – an IMF-dictated reform enacted in exchange for the debt-stricken country receiving emergency aid – caused chaos on Monday as they blocked access to ports, archaeological sites and Athens international airport. On the first day of a 48-hour strike, described as “the beginning of a battle”, cabbies took over roads, toll-booths and entries to the ports of Piraeus and Patras in a mass display of defiance against government plans to deregulate their trade. Thousands of holidaymakers visiting Greece were caught up in the mayhem. Many missed connecting flights after some 2,000 taxi drivers took over the road leading to the capital’s airport. Protesters also blocked gates to cruise ship docks preventing some 15,000 visitors from boarding coaches to see prime sites. In northern Greece, holidaymakers were also held up as drivers blocked main roads. “It’s been very trying in the baking heat,” said Mimi Skillett, a British tourist, after missing a plane connection from Athens to Skiathos. Drivers, who vowed to take to the streets on Tuesday, have been spurred into action by a government decision to open up their business by making it easier, and cheaper, to buy taxi licences. The socialist administration implemented the reform as part of efforts to liberalise over 150 “closed shop” professions blamed for stunting competition and Greece’s economic growth. With the country mired in recession, the 23,000-strong sector says its earnings have dropped precipitously. “If you had got a €200,000 [£175,000] loan to buy a car and a taxi licence according of the laws of this country … and suddenly you are told that tomorrow you will have nothing, you tell me what you would do?” Konstantinos Dimos, general secretary of the Athens taxi drivers’ association told state-run television. Under the new rules, drivers will be able to obtain licences for €3,000 compared with the €80,000 demanded previously. With some 15,000 cab owners in Athens alone, unions say there is no need for more drivers. Prime Minister George Papandreou’s government moved ahead with the controversial legislation – lawyers, architects, pharmacists and public notaries will also see their fields opening up – after Athens came under renewed pressure to expedite reforms in return for a second rescue package of loans. The new bailout is expected to be as much, if not exceed, the €110bn financial aid package Greece received last May. Similar action by truckers last year resulted in the government allowing for a respite before the new legislation took effect. Despite appeals from Greece’s culture minister Pavlos Geroulanos, who described the strike as a “huge wound for tourism” – the nation’s biggest foreign currency earner – the drivers vowed to continue their action in future. “This is another blow to the image of our country [after the riots sparked by fresh austerity measures in Athens last month],” said the Association of Greek Tourist Enterprises. “Blocking access to ports and airports creates problems for tourism, one of the main pillars of development and hope that will enable our country to get out of this crisis.” Greece Euro European debt crisis Greece IMF Travel & leisure Athens Helena Smith guardian.co.uk

Posted by on July 18, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.