ATHENS, Greece _ Thousands of workers and supporters of a Canadian-owned gold mine in northern Greece marched through Athens on Thursday in the most significant labour challenge the country's radical left-led government has faced since its election in January.
Some 4,000 people in fluorescent green vests took part in the protest, waving flags and chanting slogans and forcing police to shut down major roads for hours.
Mine workers fear they will lose their jobs because the governing Syriza party has fought the mine, owned by Vancouver-based Eldorado Gold Corp. (TSX: T.ELD, Stock Forum), on environmental and financial grounds.
The Skouries gold mine has divided residents in the northern Greek peninsula of Halkidiki, and marches for and against the project in recent years have turned violent.
Leftist and anarchist groups who gathering for an anti-mine protest in Athens later Thursday clashed with riot police, who responded with tear gas and stun grenades.
Residents of some villages in the vicinity of the Skouries project back the mine, which has created about 2,000 jobs. But others bitterly oppose it, arguing it will take a heavy toll on the environment.
Eldorado Gold geologist Dimitris Ballas said workers are concerned the company will be forced to cancel its investment and leave Greece if there is no progress.
The government, which has accused Eldorado Gold of encouraging the protests, has temporarily revoked a permit for a key ore enrichment plant.
Krista Muhr, Eldorado vice-president for investor relations, said in an email that the company was aware of Thursday's protest by the Halkidiki unions and their supporters.
``We empathize with their concerns that the ministry's actions are a threat to their livelihood and we respect their right to protect their employment,'' Muhr said.
Ismet Ali Chotza, deputy director of supplies, said about 6,000 of the region's 18,000 people are dependent on the mines, including families of employees and other related businesses in the area.