A GENERAL strike in Greece disrupted public services across the country today, with ferries tied up in port, flights grounded and public transport affected.

Trade unions are pressing for an end to lingering austerity measures imposed on Greece by international creditors a decade ago.

Thousands of protesters marched through the centre of Athens in two separate demonstrations that ended peacefully.

The 24-hour strike was called by the two main umbrella unions covering the public and private sectors. 

They are seeking salary increases and a full return of collective bargaining rights scrapped as part of international bailouts during the country’s financial crisis.

Commercial flights to and from Greece and between domestic destinations were cancelled for 24 hours from midnight on Wednesday, while in the Greek capital buses, trolleys, trains, trams and the subway system were operating only for part of the day.

“The high cost of living is eating away at workers’ incomes, without any care from the government,” said a statement by the General Confederation of Workers of Greece, the private sector’s umbrella union.

The umbrella union for the public sector, known by its acronym ADEDY, called for wage increases and the return of holiday bonuses for the civil service, equivalent to two months’ salary before they were abolished as part of bailout austerity measures.