PPC strike ends as MPs prepare to vote on energy privatization bill

A strike by Public Power Corporation (PPC) workers was called off on Sunday night, with attention now shifting to the parliamentary vote on legislation allowing the electricity monopoly to be privatized.

MPs are due to vote on the bill on Wednesday. The draft legislation was approved by deputies at committee level last week. All the opposition parties voted against the bill, which was supported only by New Democracy and PASOK.

The strike was called off after the Athens Court of First Instance ruled late on Friday that the strike organized by the GENOP-DEI union was “illegal and abusive.” GENOP-DEI vowed to ignore the ruling, which led to the government issuing civil mobilization orders to the PPC workers to force them to return to their jobs.

GENOP-DEI vowed to continue its protests in another way but did not give details.

SYRIZA is to continue efforts to convince opposition parties to hold a referendum on energy privatization. It needs the support of 120 MPs for the possibility of a plebiscite to be discussed in Parliament.

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