Greek unions strike as reform vote nears

Greek unions say they are set to carry out a second day of strikes Wednesday that could again disrupt public transportation and other services in the country. The strikes were called as Parliament gets ready to consider a bill that would institute a series of painful social and financial reforms, ekathimerini.com reported/ Two main labor unions called for a rally at 5 p.m. Wednesday at a square in downtown Athens, while a third demonstration is planned by a Communist-party-affiliated union. The 48-hour strike has severely affected life around Athens. Suburban rail services, buses, trolleys and ferries were not running Wednesday, while taxis were operating a rolling strike for a third day. Airlines were modifying flight schedules in anticipation of a four-hour strike by air traffic controllers. Pharmacies were closed, and hospitals were operating with few staff. Members of Parliament will vote around midnight Wednesday on a package of bills that set out a number of structural reforms and $17.3 billion in fiscal measures that would be put in place over the next two years. The bills affect everything from how much public employees are paid to what products supermarkets can sell. More than 25,000 public employees could lose their jobs.