Riot police sent against Greek striking seamen

Riot police were sent to Greece's main harbour Piraeus early on Wednesday to end a strike by seamen that has disrupted ferry services to the country's myriad islands for nearly a week. The police were sent to enforce an emergency government order that took effect at 0400 GMT to force the strikers back to work. Television footage showed a cordon of riot police deployed at the harbour to keep a strike support force away from ships taking on passengers and cargo. The Panhellenic Seamen's Union (PNO) is protesting against a labour reform that allows ferry owners to regulate the number of crew members depending on the distance of the voyage. The union also notes that its sector is suffering heavy unemployment while some 2,000 of its members have been unpaid by employers for six months. PNO had decided to extend the six-day mobilisation for another 48 hours before the government crackdown. ATHENS (AFP) - (AFP) - Riot police were sent to Greece's main harbour Piraeus early on Wednesday to end a strike by seamen that has disrupted ferry services to the country's myriad islands for nearly a week. The police were sent to enforce an emergency government order that took effect at 0400 GMT to force the strikers back to work. Television footage showed a cordon of riot police deployed at the harbour to keep a strike support force away from ships taking on passengers and cargo. The Panhellenic Seamen's Union (PNO) is protesting against a labour reform that allows ferry owners to regulate the number of crew members depending on the distance of the voyage. The union also notes that its sector is suffering heavy unemployment while some 2,000 of its members have been unpaid by employers for six months. PNO had decided to extend the six-day mobilisation for another 48 hours before the government crackdown.