Spartakiste
3rd March 2010, 22:30
The "socialist" Greek government revealed today its package to face the huge public debt and deficit levels. It was saluted by the financial markets (the government wants to reassure them, yes those that speculate against the country like Goldman Sachs) and the European Union.
It can be summarized, as far as I read, as follows :
- the VAT is brought to 21 %, that is 2 point higher than now
- increase of other taxes in the same essence (that is indirect taxes where workers and bourgeois pay the same amount, no matter how poor or rich they are) : + 20 % of alcohol tax, + 65 % of cigarette tax and of fuel taxes
- freezing of workers pensions for both the public and the private sectors ;
- salary cuts in the public sector
A new general strike is called out for this month (don't have the date). It is very inspiring how workers respond in that country since the situation might spread elsewhere.
Retired workers protested today and were, as always, faced by the police.
The struggle there is one of the most advanced, I believe.
It can be summarized, as far as I read, as follows :
- the VAT is brought to 21 %, that is 2 point higher than now
- increase of other taxes in the same essence (that is indirect taxes where workers and bourgeois pay the same amount, no matter how poor or rich they are) : + 20 % of alcohol tax, + 65 % of cigarette tax and of fuel taxes
- freezing of workers pensions for both the public and the private sectors ;
- salary cuts in the public sector
A new general strike is called out for this month (don't have the date). It is very inspiring how workers respond in that country since the situation might spread elsewhere.
Retired workers protested today and were, as always, faced by the police.
The struggle there is one of the most advanced, I believe.