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2010-12-15 07:07:59
Greek workers are staging a fresh general strike in protest at government
austerity measures.
The day of action has grounded flights, disrupted public transport and closed
schools across the country.
It is the seventh general strike this year, following tough reforms imposed in
return for a 110bn euro ( 84bn) bail-out.
Security is tight in the capital, Athens, where previous strikes have ended in
violence.
"We need to send the government a message that we will not accept measures that
lead us only to poverty and unemployment," Ilias Iliopoulos, general secretary
at the civil servants' union Adedy told Reuters news agency.
On Tuesday, the Greek parliament voted through key economic reforms stipulated
by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and EU, which are funding the bailout.
The new legislation will cap the salaries of workers in state-run companies,
such as the public transport networks.
In the private sector, employers will no longer have to abide by union
negotiated agreements and can set their own wages.
Prime Minister George Papandreou said the measures were designed to keep
struggling companies afloat.
Wednesday's strike is part of a European day of action against economic
reforms.
Workers are rallying against austerity measures in countries including Spain
and Belgium, ahead of a summit of EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday and
Friday.
The BBC's Malcolm Brabant, in Athens, says the Greek government has refused to
be knocked off course as it pushes through the reforms.
Many Greeks believe their workers are being crushed by the IMF and EU in a huge
economic experiment, he adds.