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Photos: Subways, buses, and tractors are the latest tools of protest in Greece

Farmers drive their tractors on Egnatia highway near the northern Greek city of Veria.
Farmers drive their tractors on Egnatia highway near the northern Greek city of Veria.
Image: AP Photo/Nikolas Giakoumidis
By
Claudia Bracholdt
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Greek farmers have figured out a way to wage protest, air grievances and bring the country to a halt—literally. This past weekend, they took their tractors to the Egnatia highway, which runs through northern Greece, and blocked the road for an hour. Farmers complain that they haven’t received any state subsidies, while others say the compensation for natural disasters that have hurt their crops is too low.

Amid a deep economic slump, protest has become commonplace in Greece. Metro workers were just on strike for nine consecutive days, forcing the closure of subways and buses. Transit workers returned to work Friday after a court decision declared their protest illegal.

These photos capture Greece’s week of protest:

Farmers use their tractors to block Egnatia highway near the northern Greek city of Veria.
Farmers use their tractors to block Egnatia highway near the northern Greek city of Veria.
Image: AP Photo/Nikolas Giakoumidis
Farmers protest on their parked tractors on Egnatia highway near the northern Greek city of Veria. Farmers obstructed the road for about an hour.
Farmers protest on their parked tractors on Egnatia highway near the northern Greek city of Veria. Farmers obstructed the road for about an hour.
Image: AP Photo/Nikolas Giakoumidis
Vegetables are grown in plots next to low-rent housing in Menemeni near Thessaloniki, in northern Greece. Greeks are trying to save money by growing their own produce.
Vegetables are grown in plots next to low-rent housing in Menemeni near Thessaloniki, in northern Greece. Greeks are trying to save money by growing their own produce.
Image: AP Photo/Nikolas Giakoumidis
A striking metro worker looks out from behind the closed gate of the central depot in Athens. Athens’ subway system was closed for nine days.
A striking metro worker looks out from behind the closed gate of the central depot in Athens. Athens’ subway system was closed for nine days.
Image: AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis
Metro workers burn documents outside Aghios Antonios station in western Athens. Striking Athens metro workers returned to the job Friday, hours after the Greek government dispatched riot police to a transit depot.
Metro workers burn documents outside Aghios Antonios station in western Athens. Striking Athens metro workers returned to the job Friday, hours after the Greek government dispatched riot police to a transit depot.
Image: AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis
Some workers are still defying a court order to return to work, despite a government threat to prosecute them.
Some workers are still defying a court order to return to work, despite a government threat to prosecute them.
Image: AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis
Union members affiliated with the Communist party march in solidarity with striking public transport workers in Athens.
Union members affiliated with the Communist party march in solidarity with striking public transport workers in Athens.
Image: AP Photo/Kostas Tsironis
About 2,000 members of the pro-communist All-Workers Military Front, known as PAME, have marched to the Greek parliament to protest planned pay cuts for transport workers.
About 2,000 members of the pro-communist All-Workers Military Front, known as PAME, have marched to the Greek parliament to protest planned pay cuts for transport workers.
Image: AP Photo/Dimitri Messinis
Greek shipyard workers protest at Omonia Square in central Athens with a plea: ” We want work.”
Greek shipyard workers protest at Omonia Square in central Athens with a plea: ” We want work.”
Image: AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris