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Greek Workers Strike Against Pension Reforms


Greek public sector workers staged another strike against the government's austerity measures Thursday.

Hundreds of workers demonstrated outside parliament in Athens as lawmakers prepared to vote on pension reforms for public servants that include raising the age of retirement.

Air traffic controllers joined the walkout, halting flights at all Greek airports for at least four hours.

The strike also shut down government offices across the country.

Greek officials agreed to reform the pension system as one of the conditions for receiving a $139 billion economic bailout from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund.

Lawmakers approved pension reform in a preliminary vote last week.

Labor unions in Greece have come out strongly against pension reform, but polls show many Greeks back the move, and the government calls it an essential part of efforts to revitalize the devastated Greek economy.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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