IOC warns Greece as strike hits builders

ATHENS (Reuters) -- Olympic organisers warned Greece that more strike action like Wednesday's 24-hour strike by workers in industries including transport and construction could threaten the Summer Games in August.

With building firms in Athens racing against the clock to finish stadiums and other infrastructure in time, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said Greece would have to make up for the effects of the stoppage.

The IOC's top inspector, Denis Oswald, said contractors could make up delays and called on unions not to make a habit of striking before the games in August.

But the union calling the action hinted that more stoppages were possible to advance workers' demands for more pay.

On the day the Olympic flame was to arrive in the Greek capital before being carried around the world ahead of the Games, thousands of building workers downed tools and many commuters were mired in traffic snarls caused by public transport disruptions.

"As long as they can still compensate with work on Saturdays and Sundays I think it won't be a problem," Oswald told reporters during a visit to the Olympic cycling stadium, where staff appeared to be working normally.

"But of course if this strike will be repeated many times it would have an effect."

GSEE, Greece's largest private sector union, wants an eight- percent pay rise and has hinted it will not shy away from more action to push its demands -- even if it means disrupting Games preparations.

"I have been told that there is an agreement between the unions and the government that there will be no strikes during the Games," Oswald said. "I do not know if there will be other strikes on the way to the Games."

BUILDING SITES HIT

A spokesman for the Athens Olympics organisers (ATHOC) said union bosses considered the Games a national issue and reassured organisers that workers would not strike during the event.

"ATHOC has briefed all unions in time and cooperated closely with them," ATHOC spokesman Serafim Kotrotsos told Reuters. "There is a gentleman's agreement so as to avoid problems that can weigh on both the preparation and the running of the Games."

Olympic construction firms contacted by Reuters said the situation on building sites was mixed, with some staff late because of the traffic jams.

"Work attendance in our construction sites ranges from 40 percent to 80 percent, depending on the site," said a spokeswoman for Pantechniki construction firm, one of the companies working on the revamp of the Olympic Stadium complex.

In the city's main port of Piraeus, ships were moored and would sail at the end of the strike at midnight, a spokesman said. Most flights took off from Athens airport, with some foreign carriers having cancelled flights in advance of the work stoppage.

Oswald said unions should consider that strikes would damage Greece's image as it seeks a boost from hosting the Olympics.

"More striking would be counterproductive," he said.

Greece's new conservative government has scrapped several Olympic projects that were running late, scaled back others, and called on builders to work round the clock to complete preparations for the August 13-29 Games.

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