Services in Greece, from garbage collection to public transport, shut down Friday as workers kicked off three days of strikes to protest new bailout austerity measures that they say will further reduce incomes.
Unions on Thursday called a 48-hour general strike starting Friday, adding it onto a previously declared Sunday strike. State-run and many private services, including garbage collection, public transport, municipal offices and news broadcasts, were suspended.
Seamen, who had already declared separate strikes, joined in, leaving Greek islands without ferry connections until Tuesday morning, leaving tourists stranded.
About 500 Bulgarian tourists remain stuck on Greece’s Aegean island of Santorini due to a strike of ferry companies, Sofia-based broadcaster bTV reported on Friday.
Strike halts ferry services to Greek Islands stranding tourists