There will be another demonstration in Greece on Wednesday because of the deadly train disaster a week ago. Employees in public transport, teachers and hospital staff, among others, have stopped working. In the capital Athens, protesters clashed with the police. They threw Molotov cocktails and the police fired tear gas.
Large cities such as Athens and Thessaloniki are particularly affected by the strikes, which lead to chaos in traffic. Many Greek islands are inaccessible because there are no ferries. Tens of thousands of demonstrators have gathered in the capital.
According to news agency Reuters about 40,000 demonstrators. They shouted “Murderers!” and “We’re all in the same carriage!” A group of demonstrators outside the parliament building threw petrol bombs and stones at the police. Officers responded by firing tear gas. In Thessaloniki, protesters threw stones at a government building.
The major trade unions in Greece, which organized the strikes, are critical of the government’s privatization policies. This policy has also had consequences for the railway. Since the disaster, there has been a lot of attention for the poor state of the Greek railways. According to the strikers, there has been neglect and staff shortages for years and investments are not forthcoming.
In the February 28 accident, two trains collided head-on near the town of Larissa. There were 57 deaths. The Larissa station master is said to have let the trains run on the same track and is being prosecuted for, among other things, wrongful death, according to Greek media. The newspaper Kathimerini reports that three colleagues may also be charged.
