9 in 10 Greeks denounce "unfair" new austerity measures

Anger and disappointment against the new package of austerity measures promoted by the Greek government was shown in a new survey poll in Greece on Tuesday, as thousands employees hit the streets of Athens again denouncing tough policies. According to the survey conducted for private television channel MEGA, 92 percent of Greeks believe the measures are unfair and 72 percent believe they will not work. When asked whether they would pay the taxes only 23 percent said they would resist, while 70 percent said they would pay. In the same survey, Greece's conservative main opposition party is ahead with 22.3 percent in support rate, while the ruling socialist party follows with 15.5 percent. Chaos and discomfort continued for the commuters in the capital of Greece due to consecutive strikes in the public transit sector in protest against austerity measures. Public transport employees called a 48-hour strike, while the situation will get worse on Wednesday when all forms of public transport and taxis will continue their mobilizations. Many public labor unions and pensioners demonstrated on Tuesday in the center of Athens protesting against the severe economic reforms that the Greek government wants to promote in order to secure further funding from the EU/International Monetary Fund lenders and avoid bankruptcy. The impact of the debt crisis and the austerity measures so far is enormous. The Institute for Labor of the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) released on Tuesday an annual report for economy and labor which shows the tragic picture of the debt-ridden country regarding employment. The unemployment is estimated to jump to 22-23 percent in coming months, according to the Institute for Labor. The latest figures from the Greek Statistics Agency say jobless rate hit decade record high above 16 percent in the second quarter. The domestic request of employment has been decreased to the level of 2003, the GDP per resident and the productivity of work are in the level of 2000, while the purchasing power of salary has returned to the equivalent levels of 2000-2002, according to the Institute of Labor.