Greek strikes see flights cancelled

22/09/11

By Natalie Thomas

More Greek tax increases and cuts to pensions have prompted transport strikes in Athens, causing flight cancellations and traffic jams in the city.

Additional austerity measures announced by the Greek government have triggered a backlash by unions and a day of strikes in the public transport sector, as well as forthcoming strikes by air traffic controllers.

Many areas of the transport sector have walked out, including taxis, trains, buses, trams and underground network staff.

Air traffic controllers will strike for three hours, and many flights have already been either rescheduled or cancelled.

The strikes have forces many Athenians to use their cars to get to work - meaning the streets have become clogged, ironically on a day labelled 'World Carfree Day'.

The new austerity measures are in an effort to ensure Greece's international bailout is paid, and to reassure the global market, who fear the country will default, of Greece's position.