Afrodity Giannakis

The standard of living for the people of Greece has dropped dramatically since the signing of the first “memorandum” — the agreement signed by the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) government with the IMF and European Union (EU) representatives last May. The agreement has meant — among other things — unprecedented salary cuts, a rise in the allowed number of dismissals and a reduction in termination pay, and a cut in the minimum wage for those entering the workforce.

An unprecedented high abstention rate of 39% marked elections for municipal and regional authorities for 13 region governors and 325 mayors in Greece. The second round of the elections took place on November 14. The regions are newly created local authorities. Their formation is closely connected to the austerity program imposed on Greece by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and European Union (EU). The new bodies conform to the “Kallikratis” plan, a hasty reform of the administrative structure of the country.

In early March, after a three-month media bombardment about the country’s economic crisis, the Greek government — backed by conservative opposition parties, the European Union (EU)and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) — announced harsh austerity measures for ordinary people. These included unprecedented salary, pension, job and public services cuts and large-scale privatisation. The government offensive entails an enormous income transfer from workers and pensioners to big business and the State Revenue Office.

ATHENS — High school students throughout Greece are continuing their struggle against the government's education bill 2525. The campaign, which kicked off in November, is dynamic and persistent. Hundreds of schools remain

A dispute between teachers and the government dominated the Greek political scene for some days in June. The trigger was the government's decision to replace the system of teacher placement with one based on an exam.

The NSW Adult Migrant English Service (AMES) is the biggest provider of English classes to newly arrived migrants and refugees. Until 1993, most of its classes were directly funded by the Department of Immigration and

SYDNEY — The March 20 half-day strike by members of the NSW Teachers Federation was well received by large sections of the community. About 300 associations across the state lobbied politicians in support of the teachers'

SYDNEY — Teachers at the Adult Migrant English Service (AMES) in Auburn and Parramatta are campaigning to stop a threatened closure of English for migrants classes at Auburn. AMES is administered by the state

IllusionsNeon lights selling lies of excitement and ultimate satisfaction. Consumption of synthetic food flamboyant dresses and the system's rotten relationships artfully wrapped in flashy screens

Social Security members of the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) recently voted on the DSS "in-principle" agency bargaining agreement for 1995. Although the agreement was accepted on a national level, in NSW it