Civil servants stage strikes in Greece

In Greece, civil service workers have staged strikes to protest against pension reforms and government plans to privatize state companies. This has caused disruptions to flight and banking services.

Police clashed with protestors in Athens, firing tear gas to prevent bank employees from entering the headquarters of the National Bank of Greece. Unions say the sell-off of state run companies will result in job losses.

Air traffic controllers walked off the job for four hours grounding 20 flights at Athens' main airport. Employees at the electric company, and postal services, as well as doctors and teachers also participated in the strikes.

The country has been hit by a series of strikes as the government pushes through difficult reforms including pension reforms that unions say this will decrease benefits and raise the retirement age.