Greek truckers opt for a third week on strike

Greek truckers decided overnight to push their strike into a third week despite an increasingly tough line from the government, their leader announced yesterday.

Truckers union leader Georges Tzotzatos said a general meeting of members had decided overnight Tuesday to continue the action, launched on September 13, until the government agreed to resume talks.

They have been out on strike since September 13 in protest at government plans to liberalise their sector by opening it up to competition.

But the government last week voted the reforms through and on Tuesday warned they would use both the courts and police to minimise the effect of the action.

Police have already been out in force in recent days to try to break up picket lines that striking truckers set up at the entrances to ports and motorway toll booths.

Traders, whose business has been severely disrupted due to the halt in deliveries, have, since Monday, been in talks with the truckers to try to get the action suspended.

Athens prosecutors meanwhile opened an investigation into an incident Tuesday, when two non-striking truckers were shot at as they travelled towards the capital.