Escalating the protests and rejecting Ragousis’ bill

Despite the strikes that start tomorrow, by taxi drivers who are rejecting Ragousis’ bill, which he presented to the cabinet yesterday, the government does not seem willing to back down.

Associates of the of the transport minister indicate that deregulating professions, including taxis and trucks, is a key structural change that must take place in order to take the country out of the recession. As they said, "the deregulation of all professions will proceed normally".

Meanwhile, the meeting of the representatives from both the taxi and the truck sectors with secretary general Aristidis Bourdaras did not present any solutions.

In fact, an incident was avoided at the last minute when the leadership of SATA (Attica Taxi Drivers) stormed into the secretary’s office to express their disagreement with the deregulation, moments after the meeting.

Earlier, SATA president Thymios Lymperopoulos appeared sharp and combatant at a radio station, being caustic about Ragoussis’ provisions. "If there were justice he should have been arrested for treason. He is taking away our property and breaking EU law."

The leaderships of professionals who have announced their participation in the GSEE-ADEDY strike next Wednesday, October 19, will meet tomorrow to plan their course of action.

Truck unionists are also entering the protests, asking for the withdrawal of the disputed provisions that lead to the abolition of the transitional period of three years.

Already at Chania, public-use truck owners are planning lasting rallies commencing on October 19.