November 27, 2008	Thursday	Ziqa'ad 28, 1429

ATHENS: Athens flights were disrupted on Wednesday after air traffic controllers walked off the job for three hours, joining a Greek public sector walkout over the high cost of living and the government’s unpopular economic policies.

State-owned Olympic Airlines said it cancelled 22 foreign and domestic flights and rescheduled a further 18, including destinations such as London, Paris and Bucharest.

Private rival Aegean Airlines cancelled six domestic flights and rescheduled 13.

“We strike to support our public sector colleagues,” said Panagiotis Hatzakis, secretary general of the air traffic controllers union. “This is the only way for us to be heard.”

Greece’s public sector union, ADEDY, called on workers to stop work from noon (1000 GMT) until the end of their shift, which for most would mean around three hours.

Greece’s public and private sector unions, representing about 2.5 million workers, have called for a nationwide 24-hour strike on Dec 10 opposing the government’s privatisation programme and tax increases.

Despite protests over previous privatisations, the government has pledged to press ahead with the sale of loss-making Olympic, due to conclude in January.—Reuters