Greece loses civil services

Public services in Greece have been disrupted as civil servants and public utility workers have declared a 24-hour strike against pay cuts. All flights to and from Greece are grounded as strike is in full swing in Athens on Wednesday.

Greek unions are rallying in central Athens on Wednesday in a new protest over the austerity measures applied as the government struggles to avoid default.

Civil servants also walked off the job for 24-hour strike protesting plans to suspend staff on partial pay.

The Greek government recently approved a measure to put 30,000 civil servers on reserve, which will mean a reduction in their salary for a year and the possibility of dismissal at the end of that period.

Many Greeks have already lost their jobs and are struggling to pay constantly rising taxes as the government tries to plug enormous deficits in the budget.

Air traffic controllers have joined the strike and cancelled all flights at Athens International Airport beginning from Tuesday 2100 GMT (midnight local time).

Public transport workers, lawyers, public hospital doctors and dock workers have also declared they will join the strike action on Wednesday.

This nationwide protest comes after eurozone finance chiefs postponed Greece`s next bailout .

Athens says the next tranche of 8 billion euros needs to be released by mid-November or the country will run out of money.

Greece had previously said it would start running out of money in mid-October if it did not get the bailout loan.

sections: Society