Friday, August 5 – August 16, 2016
2016 Summer Olympic Games, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Summer Games Gallery
Summer Games Gallery
Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday August 5, 2004
Hotel workers in and around this Greek capital staged a strike Wednesday to demand double wages and an Olympic bonus as has been promised to security personnel for this month’s games, Xinhua reports. It was the sixth strike in the past month by the union, which includes cleaning staff and kitchen personnel.
The hotel workers’ union is demanding that monthly minimum pay rise for workers in hotels to compensate longer working hours and shorter holidays. The government has already promised bonuses to other personnel providing security for the Aug 13-29 Olympic Games.
Despite the Olympics, tourism in Greece has dropped sharply, prompting government officials to call for an overhaul of vital services.
The government, however, is trying to keep costs down as Olympic spending has skyrocketed.
A total of 14,670 hotel workers are employed in greater Athens. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)