Greece: Workers to stage another general strike Wednesday, March 19

While rats rummage through growing piles of garbage on Athens streets:

"A general strike on Wednesday by the country's two largest private and public sector union groups, GSEE and ADEDY, is expected to bring the country to a halt.

Bank workers have said they are striking today and tomorrow and will be joined by lawyers who will stay away from work for the whole week.

Journalists, engineers, petrol station employees, doctors, pharmacists, bakers and teachers will also take part in Wednesday's general strike.

Power workers also said they would continue their strike and were expected to make an announcement late yesterday or this morning on upcoming protest action."

~ from Municipal employees extend protest as police guard landfill ~

Unions say the government's reform plans would curtail employee rights, especially those of women, who can now retire at 50 on a full pension if they have underage children. Unionists also insist the shaky pension system could survive for years if employers were made to pay their contributions. One of the worst offenders is the state, which owes pension funds some €10 billion (US$15.6 billion).

~ from Municipal employees extend strike as protests over pension reform escalate ~