Greek state workers block privatisation agency offices to protest ports selloffs

Thessaloniki Port Authority SA

10/06/2016 08:49

ATHENS, June 10 (Reuters) - Dozens of demonstrators blocked 
the entrance to Greece's privatisation agency offices in central 
Athens on Friday and planned more protests during the day 
against the sale of the country's two biggest ports.  
    Privatisations have been a key plank of Greece's succession 
of bailouts since 2010 but have reaped poor revenues due to 
political resistance, union protests and bureaucracy. 
    Greece has agreed the sale of a 67 percent stake in Piraeus 
Port  OLPr.AT  to COSCO  601919.SS  for 368.5 million euros. 
Under its third international bailout, Athens also plans to sell 
a majority stake in its second largest port in the northern 
Greek city of Thessaloniki  OLTr.AT  later this year. 
    About 80 state workers and members of communist-affiliated 
groups rallied early in the morning outside the headquarters of 
the privatisation agency, which manages the sales. Piraeus Port 
employs 1,100 people and Thessaloniki port about 400. 
    More protesters started rallying outside the Athens stock 
exchange building where Piraeus Port shareholders were expected 
to meet at 0800 GMT to approve the port's sale. About 300 police 
officers were deployed outside the building. 
    Last week shareholders met at a central Athens hotel to 
approve the sale, but the meeting was interrupted after to the 
protests.  ID:nL8N18S3G7       
    Port workers have been on 48-hour rolling strikes since late 
May demanding that their current labour status is protected 
under the privatisation deals, including the 36-year concession 
agreement with COSCO.      
    The strike has disrupted cargo operations and services 
provided to cruise ships. Cruise ship operators have warned that 
cruise lines will shun Piraeus for other ports if the labour 
action continues. 
 
 (Reporting by Angeliki Koutantou; Editing by Dominic Evans) 
 ((angeliki.koutantou@thomsonreuters.com; +30 210 3376436; 
Reuters Messaging: angeliki.koutantou.reuters.com@reuters.net)) 
 
Keywords: EUROZONE GREECE/PRIVATISATION PROTESTS