Greek workers went on strike on Wednesday to protest against years of belt-tightening and a new wave austerity measures that will kick in after the country’s third international bailout expires this summer, Reuters reported. Some flights were grounded, ships were unable to sail and public transport was disrupted in the one-day nationwide action organized by Greece’s largest labor unions, the private sector union GSEE and its public sector counterpart ADEDY. Since its debt crisis began in 2009, Greece has received €260 billion ($301.5 billion) in bailout loans in exchange for implementing austerity measures such as public sector layoffs, tax hikes and pension cuts. Journalists also walked off the job. “The government, which implements the same policies that have destroyed the people and the economy, is loading the back of workers and pensioners with new unbearable measures,” GSEE said in a statement. Greece’s largest carrier Aegean and Olympic Air cancelled three return flights and rescheduled 50 others.
