Greece is paralysed by a 24-hour general strike of public employees against austerity measures, hitting public transport, intercity trains, flights, ferries, taxi services, hospitals and schools.

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou met yesterday the opposition leaders to discuss their opposition to the contentious bill, which foresees the relaxation of labour laws and pay cuts for public employees.

The Greek labour (GSEE) and civil servants’ union (ADEDY) have joined forces in this new massive strike to show the colossal discontent over austerity measures and reforms imposed by the European Union and the International Monetary Fund in the wake of the country's massive budget deficit. The protest march went through Syntagma Square, which lies between the Parliament and Finance Ministry, and then left again just after midday.

Greek Parliament adopted a law Tuesday diminishing the power of collective labor agreements, making it easier for employers to fire people. It also says hundreds of thousands of employees in the civil sector will be getting a pay cut of 10%. The unemployment rate rose to 12% in July and it will worsen to 14.5% next year as the economy suffers its third successive year of recession. 

The new wave of general strikes intends to demand that the government protect jobs and give back pension benefits. The 2011 budget, planned to be voted on in parliament on next Wednesday, anticipates the deficit declining from 9.4% of GDP to 7.4%. Most of the cuts are on the public sector, namely with public enterprises such as the railways and other public transports.