Greece began a general strike for two days

Greece has started today a nationwide 48-hour strike to protest against the tax and benefit reforms to get money from international creditors. Organized by major public and private unions, the strike has kept the ships docked at the port and is blocking public transport. Even journalists have joined the protest.

"They are trying to prove the Eurogroup who are good students, but they are destroying the social security system of Greece," said the union the GSEE private sector, defining the new reforms are pending approval "the last nail in the coffin" for workers and retirees after six years of austerity. The groom is hoped that the measures, which should be approved on Sunday by the Parliament, will help to convince the creditors to approve the release of EUR 5 billion of aid. Greece needs the bailout funds to repay the IMF loans and bonds in the belly to the ECB expires in July.