GREECE: Buses and trains stopped, banks closed and cash machine supplies ran low yesterday as a 24-hour strike by Greek private sector workers against government pension fund reforms caused chaos across the country.
Flights of state carrier Olympic Airlines were disrupted as cabin crews stopped work while sailings from Piraeus, the country's main port, were restricted to one ferry per destination.
The private sector umbrella trade union GSEE, which had already staged industrial action on June 16th, says the proposed reforms threaten pension rights, raise the retirement age and put a heavy burden on the main social security fund.
Trade unionists and police said about 10,000 people took part in a rally in central Athens at noon.
"We are striking so that changes in bank workers' pensions will not be expanded to state-owned utilities," said a member of a hospital union taking part in the rally, who declined to be named.
The civil servants' union joined the strike with a 3-hour work stoppage in the morning.
Most banks were closed as employees stayed at home and supplies of banknotes at cash machines began to dwindle.
"There will be no cash at most of the ATM outlets after Sunday," said George Pliatsikouris of the security workers' union, which plans more action next week.
Bank employees, who launched rolling 48-hour strikes on June 7th, will extend their strike to Tuesday.