=20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This article was sent to you by someone who found it on SFGate. The original article can be found on SFGate.com here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/n/a/2008/10/30/financial/= f093225D65.DTL --------------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday, October 30, 2008 (AP) Olympic Airlines workers on 24-hour strike (10-30) 09:52 PDT ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- Workers at Greece's debt-ridden Olympic Airlines staged a 24-hour strike Thursday against government plans to privatize the carrier, forcing the cancellation of 96 international and domestic flights. The strike came as Greek lawmakers started debating draft legislation on= a 1.3 billion euros ($1.69 billion) voluntary retirement and relocation scheme for the company's employees, which Olympic unions oppose. The government is offering state jobs and benefits to Olympic's roughly 8,100 workers, but has said no one is guaranteed employment at the privatized airline. The company has accumulated total losses of around 2.7 billion euros ($3.52 billion). Last month, the European Union approved Greece's plan to break up the airline and fully privatize it by the end of 2009. But the EU said Olympic must pay back state subsidies worth euro850 million ($1.1 billion). Qatar Airways has expressed interest in buying the airline, Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis confirmed during a weekend visit to the Middle Eastern country. Unions have said they oppose the prospect. The cancelled flights were mainly to Greek destinations but also included some on routes to Britain, Germany, Belgium, Italy and France. Protesting Olympic workers have walked onto the runway at Athens airport several times in recent weeks, sometimes briefly disrupting flights and forcing planes to circle the airport. -------------------------------------= --------------------------------- Copyright 2008 AP <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> If you wish to unsubscribe from the AIRLINE List, please send an E-mail to: "listserv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx". Within the body of the text, only write the following:"SIGNOFF AIRLINE".