ATHENS, November 6 (RIA Novosti) - Greece’s leading trade unions on Tuesday announced a 48-hour nationwide strike against austerity measures.
The strike began hours after a draft to cut budget expenditures by 13.5 billion euro in exchange for another 31.5-billion euro bailout tranche from the International Monetary Fund and the European Union was officially submitted to parliament. The parliament is expected to pass the package with a slim majority on Wednesday.
Public agencies, banks, schools, universities and shops will be closed during the strike. All public transportation is to be halted, including subway, buses and suburban trains. Most taxi drivers will also go on strike.
Trade unions of railway and ferry workers said they will also join the strike.
Air traffic controllers will be on strike from 10:00 to 13:00 local time [8:00-11:00 GMT], and Greek airports will be closed during this period.
Police in downtown Athens was put on alert in case of mass protests and possible riots.
