Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek ferry workers on Friday extended a nationwide strike into the weekend, hitting supplies to the country's islands and triggering violent protests on Crete.
The Pan-Hellenic Seamen's Federation, or PNO, extended its weeklong strike until early Sunday in a protest against new tax regulations for ferry workers as well as other measures imposed under Greece's international bailout commitments.
The extension follows a general strike in Greece on Thursday against austerity measures.
The ferry workers' protest has disrupted supplies to the Greek islands, many of which depend on imports for key goods, and also hurt island farmers who are unable to get their produce to the mainland.
On the southern island of Crete, angry farmers fired flares and threw stones at the striking crew of a ferry moored in port, demanding that their produce should be taken to mainland markets before it rots.
Seamen responded by soaking protesters with fire hoses. No arrests were reported. The local harbormaster suffered light injuries.
The government said it was seeking to hold talks with PNO's leadership to try to end the strike.
"Patience is required," Merchant Marine Minister Panayiotis Kouroumblis said.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
