Athens strike takes hold

ATHENS, Greece -- Traffic in the Greek capital ground to a standstill after public transport workers joined a general strike against the socialist government's plans to reform the Greek labour market.

Athenians took their cars or hailed taxis to get into work on Tuesday, creating what one traffic helicopter called the "the biggest traffic snarl of the decade."

The General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE), which represents about two million workers, and the umbrella group for civil servants (ADEDY) called the 24-hour-long walkout to protest against the government's plans to push ahead with changes in employment rules.

Greece wants to boost employment by capping overtime, giving employers flexibility in setting working hours and easing restrictions on mass layoffs.

The lack of public transport also meant a later start to the GSEE's rally -- originally scheduled for 0800 GMT -- as participants struggled through the traffic jam to reach the meeting point.

Domestic and international Olympic Airways flights were disrupted by the strike, as civil aviation workers and airline staff joined the walkout. The national carrier said only one flight per domestic destination and one per country would be operated on Tuesday.

Its domestic arm Olympic Aviation cancelled flights to a number of islands in the Cyclades and the Ionian Sea.

All government and public utility offices were shut as workers joined the strike. Public hospitals operated with skeleton crews. Banking employees continued their 48-hour strike, called on Monday to protest against changes to the union's pension regime.

The government on Monday invited unions to discuss making the labour market more responsive and creating jobs.

It has said it will consider constructive proposals on reducing unemployment but that it will forge ahead with the changes even if talks with unions fail.

The labour ministry's legislation on job market reforms is expected to be submitted to parliament in November.

GSEE says the introduction of a 35-hour work week without a reduction in pay is the best way to create jobs. The government has said it is willing to discuss the proposal but that a decision on this is now premature.

Union leaders are also opposed to the government's programme of privatising state-controlled companies, such as OTE Telecoms and the Public Power Corporation (DEH), slated for flotation on the Athens bourse.

Legislation passed in 1994 mandates a skeleton staff during strikes affecting public services, such as electricity, transportation, communications, and banking.

During summer strikes, which lasted two months, skeleton staffs did not ensure that essential services continued uninterrupted but there were still no legal repercussions for the unions.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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