A general strike designed to paralyse public services in Greece including transport systems is being staged today (Thursday, December 1).
It is the latest in a series of protests over the country’s austerity measures but the first under Greece’s new coalition government.
The protest will halt ferries, disrupt public transport, close schools and leave state hospitals running with reduced staff. It is not known how air services to and from the country will be affected but recent disputes led to flight cancellations and delays.
Major protest rallies in central Athens are planned.
The strike was called against new measures to impose job freezes and pay cuts in the public sector along with an emergency property tax which threatens to leave households without power if they delay payment.