Greek government orders striking truck drivers back to work

Jul 28, 2010, 20:27 GMT

Athens - The Greek government on Wednesday ordered striking truck drivers back to work after fuel shortages began to paralyse the country.

More than 80 per cent of petrol stations across Greece ran out of fuel after truck drivers entered the third day of an indefinite strike protesting the government's attempt to open up their profession to competition.

Some 35,000 drivers of trucks that carry fuel were taking part in the protest and could be seen lining the highways since the start of the week.

The drivers are protesting the government's failure to consult them over the details of a draft law that seeks to liberalize their sector in line with European Union regulations.

The government on Wednesday evening gave the truck drivers the option of returning to work within 24 hours or risk losing their licences. Reports said union leaders planned to ignore the back to work order.

News of the strike sent thousands of Athenians and Greeks in other parts of the country scurrying for fuel, resulting in long queues outside of petrol stations.

Fearing that the strike could extend for days, many drivers ended up pumping their tanks to the limit, leaving stations without petrol.

Greece's main labour unions have since February staged repeated strikes against the tough austerity measures and reforms the country has agreed with its euro zone partners and the International Monetary Fund in exchange for a 110-billion-euro (138 billion dollar) economic bailout.

A team of EU, IMF and European Central Bank officials are currently in Athens to monitor progress and whether to release the second installment of the emergency package in September, totalling 9 billion euros.

The European Union has ordered Greece to open up many closed professions to competition, including road freight, lawyers and cruise ship crews.

Last month, striking cruise ship crews closed down parts of Greece's largest port of Pireaus during the busy tourism season.