Halt the shops in Greece were closed on Monday (21 March) in protest against the government abolishing the national mid-day siesta. Shoppers had to spend Saturday in a last-minute rush to stockpile food for the extended weekend
SYNOPSIS: Shopkeepers and their employees joined a long list of workers in striking over the government's decision to put the country on a continuous day, cutting out the traditional three hour lunch break to save energy costs. The decision was announced last month -- and since then schools have stayed closed, bank employees have stopped, communications technicians have gone on strike, and port employees have disrupted shipping. The Government move is also to bring the country in line with working hours in the rest of Europe, in view of its attempts to enter the European Economic Community
The shopkeepers were more moderate in their protest -- they only called for a 24-hour strike. But their message to the Government was the same as the rest of the country -- bring back the siesta. Shopkeepers say the new hours, which are in effect on a trial basis until the middle of May, will their businesses. Their employees say it will upset their living habits and cost them more for lunch, because until now they've been able to go home for a meal -- and a sleep in the mid-day heat