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Greek public sector workers walk off job in 24-hour strike | Greek public sector workers walk off job in 24-hour strike |
(about 3 hours later) | |
ATHENS, Greece — Greek public sector workers walked off the job in a 24-hour strike Thursday to protest social security and pension reforms demanded as part of Greece’s third international bailout, leaving flights canceled, schools closed and news broadcasts off the air. | |
Air traffic controllers joined the strike, shutting down Athens’ international airport and forcing airlines to cancel flights. State-run hospitals and the ambulance service were operating with emergency staff only, while engineers, lawyers and journalists were also on strike. | |
About 4,000 people marched through central Athens in two separate demonstrations. | |
The social security reform, which would see contributions hiked to what critics say is unsustainable levels, has led to widespread opposition in a country reeling from six years of financial crisis that has slashed incomes and spiked unemployment to around 25 percent. The pension system has also been battered by a massive 2012 debt restructuring deal. | |
Negotiators from European Union institutions and the International Monetary Fund were to meet later Thursday with Labor Minister Giorgos Katrougalos to discuss the reforms. | |
The left-led coalition government has been resisting pressure to impose a new round of deep cuts for pensioners and wants to hike contributions from businesses and salary earners, triggering protests from professional groups that have lasted months. | |
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
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