Greece facing electricity strikes over austerity

The world continues to deal with the ongoing debt crisis. The currency devaluation and austerity programs can lead to disruptions in services once considered birth rights by many.

Greece's powerful electricity workers' union says it is considering rolling strikes in May to protest plans to sell off a key stake in the state-run Public Power Corporation as part of a major privatization drive in the crisis-hit country.

The General Federation of PPC Personnel said in a statement posted on its website Wednesday that it is considering successive 48-hour strikes "aimed at changing the wrong decision taken by the government."

The union did not say when it will announce a decision, but has scheduled a news conference for next week.

The Socialist government plans to reduce its stake in PPC from 51 to 34 percent, under a euro50 billion ($71.5 billion) 2011-2015 privatization program.

In response, unions have already called a general strike for May 11.

Source: finance.yahoo.com