Greece awaits 3 days of escalating anti-austerity strikes

PanARMENIAN.Net - Greece is facing three days of escalating anti-austerity strikes, with state hospital doctors, taxi drivers, transport workers and journalists walking off the job, The Associated Press reported.

The strikes come as the wobbly coalition government prepares to present another austerity package in parliament later Monday, Nov 5.

The package of spending cuts and tax rises aim to save some €13.5 billion ($17.3 billion) in 2013-14. If lawmakers reject them in a mid-week vote, Greece faces the prospect of losing vital rescue loans that have kept it afloat since May 2010. Without the money, Greece could go bankrupt and leave the euro.

The prospect of more belt-tightening, following nearly three years of drastic income losses, has outraged unions, which have called a general strike Tuesday and Wednesday that will shut down all public services and disrupt transport.