The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 08-03-12

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From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] On Social Security System

12 Mar 2008 08:12:00

Sources: ΝΕΤ 105,8

Trade union are responding with a wave of strikes against the pension bill regarding the social pension bill the discussion of which started yesterday by the Parliaments relevant committee in a tense atmosphere. GSEE and ADEDY trade unions are preceding to working stoppage from 12:00 to 15:000. Employees at the Bank of Greece are on a 24-hour stike, while OTOE (Hellenic Federation of Bank Employee Unions) are joining today the three-hour work stoppage called by GSEE, and will hold a 48-hour strike on 13 and 14 March. Lawyers, doctors, notaries, engineers and pharmacists, public transportation Service of Civil Aviation and EKAV (Ambulances) employees are also on a strike today. Furthermore, there will be no underground and electrical train services from 12pm to 3pm today, while there will be no services at all on Thursday. DAKE (Democratic Independent Working Movement) says "yes" to mobilizations but under conditions. ADEDY and GSEE have announced a 24 Pan-Hellenic 24 hours strike for March 19.

Strikes in DEH and Prefectures

Greeces largest electricity utility Public Power Corp., PPCs main workers union GENOP-DEH is going to decide about the continuation of the strikes until the government proceeds to negotiations while it denies responsibility for the extensive power cuts. The representatives of employees the government accused of trade pursuits submitted lawsuits. PASOK president Mr. Giorgos Papandreou said that he supports the strike.

Minister of Internal Mr. Prokopis Pavlipoulos left open the possibility of civil conscription of employees working in the cleaning sectors of Prefectures while garbage pill up in streets creating serious problems. POE-OTA garbage collectors union will decide today whether strikes are to continue. POE-OTA head Mr. Themis Balasopoulos, talking to NET 105,8 said that the strike is going to continue.

Debate in Parliament

Discussion on draft pension bill by Parliaments relevant committee triggered tension. Representatives of 11 trade unions are called to submit their opinions. New Democracy states that this reform is the first major reform of the government and it will be successful because it combines the employees participation. PASOK asks for the withdrawal of the draft bill, KKE for the abolition of parliamentary members pensions while SYRIZA supports the view that this draft bill will drive people to private pension systems. LAOS spoke of extreme harsh arrangements.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

[02] Recorded his 29th Victory

12 Mar 2008 10:22:00

By Athina Saloustrou

Sources: Reuters

Democrat Barack Obama easily beat rival Hillary Clinton in Mississippi on Tuesday, giving him new momentum in their heated presidential fight, receiving 54% of votes against 44% of Hilary Clinton with 50% of votes counted. Obama has 1606 delegates while Clinton has 1484. According to CNN, 46 years old Obama the only black senator in US received 91% of votes by black voters. On the contrary, 69% of white men and 74% of white women voted for Hilary Clinton as well as 56% of voters of 65 years old. What is important to stress si that in the Democratic camp dissatisfaction for both candidates rises as 72% states that they will not be satisfied if Obama wins while 55% of voters states the same for Clinton. Neither Obama nor Clinton is likely to reach the 2,025 delegates needed to clinch the nomination without help from nearly 800 "superdelegates" (party officials and insiders free to back any candidate.)

While voters in Mississippi were still casting their ballots, racial remarks about Obama by a prominent Clinton supporter sparked a harsh exchange between the two camps. "If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position," Geraldine Ferraro, the Democratic vice presidential candidate in 1984 and the only woman ever nominated by a major party for either of the top two U.S. political offices, told a California newspaper.

Obama on his side answered that Ferraro views do not befits the Democratic Party. "I dont think Geraldine Ferraros comments have any place in our politics or in the Democratic Party. They are divisive,"Obama told a Pennsylvania newspaper. Obama's representative asked from Clinton to remove Ferraro from her campaign crew. Next fight for the two candidates will be in Pennsylvania on Tuesday on April 22.

Translated by Sofia Gartziou

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