On February tenth public service civil servants went on strike across Greece. It was a one day strike against rigorous measures; officials stated that it was essential against their financial crisis. The article Greek Civil Servants Strike Over Austerity by Dan Bilefsky talks about how Greece has been under pressure from the European Union to cut most of their high budget’s. Greece is in danger of “failing to refinance some $28 billion in debt” ( Bilefsky, 2010). One out of three people are employed in a civil service. Civil service offers Grecian’s a job for life, but now they are being face with economic problems and “had exposed a general ignorance about the harsh realities of the global economy” (Bilefsky, 2010). Protesters stated that they are fully aware that they need to make sacrifices or going against their socialist Prime Minister where as others were hoping that the European Union would come and rescue them. This economic issue is not just effecting Greece but now is spreading to Spain and Portugal where they fear that budgets will not be trimmed. The government has frozen workers salaries but the government has publicized a 2.75 billion in public spending cuts “It also aims to raise $6.87 billion more from new taxes and measures aimed at fighting tax evasion, which analysts said deprived the federal budget of $44.2 billion last year” ( Bilefsky, 2010). The Greek government also introduced a higher gasoline tax.
Marx’s ethos is grounded in self- interest. It is guided to the productive power of labor who’s division will lead to a general opulence and civil law and order. Marx has three main points to his philosophy and Greek Civil Servants Strike Over Austerity covers his third point increase in production leads to a decrease of workers. The government is not spending money properly which leads to an increase of production and a decrease in workers. Lower cost of productions lead to the depreciation of labor value that leads to the division of labor which leads to wages to go down, that leads to unemployment and unemployment leads to undercutting of each other.
People need to survive, but with wages being cut people are being alienated and are only receiving enough to live. They are not receiving enough money to survive. Government spending is finally catching up to them and they are not able to give out the funds that need to be given out. The Greek civil servants will do anything to work because they are not making enough money, so they are reaching out to other Europeans nations because they need their help.
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hey we both used similar articles! Anyhow greece does got a big problem with its debt issue. Back to Marx my article touched bases on little diffrent issues then yours from my understanding. The greek goverment isn't trying to cut peoples wages, but rather freeze them and implament a highering freeze of all public service. The protest by the unions are actually saying they are ok with freezes; but they want the bankers, and people responsible for the financial situation to take responsibilty. I do agree with you on what Marx believes is the issue regarding the greek worker. But further that a freeze in pay, will mean that people are working on a wage in which their labor is worth as of present day. If the freeze continues then the employee will be paid less then what his labor time would be worth in the future. I don't know what the goverment will do another then dig a bigger hole in the ground for themselves by asking for bailout.
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