Thousands of farmers from across Greece are demonstrating in Athens for a second day over the government’s planned Pension reforms after weeks of highway blockades. Nathan Frandino reports.

For a second straight day, thousands of farmers fill the streets of Athens.

They’re protesting against a pension reform proposal that will triple their social security contribution and raise their Income Tax.

“With 27 percent going toward pensions and 26 percent going to income tax, that means losing 53 percent of our income.”

The farmers are vowing to stay in Athens until the government cancels the plan.

Their defiance shows on their signs. This one reads “The government’s swagger will be broken by the farmer’s blockades.”

The government says the reform is needed to ensure future pensions.

Now farmers say Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has betrayed them.

“Last year, before the elections, Mr. Tsipras was climbing on tractors and promising farmers that he would be the one to save farmers and their fields, but unfortunately we have seen the exact opposite.”

The proposal was a demand from international lenders as part of a bailout review… a review that is unlikely to ease the concerns of these protesters anytime soon.