Greek strike grounds flights, disrupts transport

By Renee Maltezou

ATHENS, Dec 12 (Reuters) - All flights from Athens airport were halted and public services were closed as Greek workers went on strike on Wednesday to protest against government plans to reform the pension system.

Ferries were stopped across the Aegean islands and hospitals worked with emergency staff while thousands of protesters started to gather in central Athens to rally against the newly-elected conservatives.

"Thousands of citizens will be on the streets, almost no public or private sector service will operate," said spokesman Efstathios Anestis of the umbrella workers' union GSEE.

"Participation is almost total. There is overwhelming outrage and condemnation at the government's policies."

Private sector union GSEE and its public sector sister ADEDY, which jointly represent more than 2.5 million workers, have rejected repeated calls from the government to attend talks on pension reforms and have staged several rallies instead.

Like other EU countries with ageing populations, Greece is struggling to reform its pension system before it collapses.

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