Greek unions march to the streets; social unrest looming

In Greece, more than 60-thousand people took to the streets to protest against the continuing austerity policies the government is making to pay its bills.

Al Jazeera reports that the protesters went on a 24-hour strike on Wednesday.

They represent Greece's two biggest labour unions and account for that country's 2-point-5 million workers.   

The protesters marched to parliament beating drums, blowing whistles and calling the politicians robbers.

Riot police fired tear gas at protesters composed of mostly students and pensioners. They were hurling rocks and bottles back.

The protest ended peacefully.

They accuse the Greek government of Prime Minister Antonis Samaras of making deep cuts to wages and pensions; while doing almost nothing to chase rich tax evaders.

Greece's unemployment is 27 percent - where more than 60 percent of young workers are jobless.

The country owes the European Union and International Monetary Fund over 200 billion euros.

Opposition leader Alexis Tsipras says people who thought the government would renegotiate the bailout terms are now faced with the harsh reality of unpaid bills, closed shops and lost jobs.

Alco pollsters head Costas Panagopoulos says if expectations of paying the bills are not satisfied by the summer, whatever is left of the working class will respond with more protests.

Insurance broker and single mother Niki Lambopoulou told Al Jazeera that the government needs to look out for the poor people.

She adds that the government is killing her children's dreams

Secretary general Ilias Iliopoulos of the ADEDY public sector workers union says that a social explosion is very near.

Flickr Photo by: xamogelo

STORY WRITTEN BY: SATURN DE LOS ANGELES