Athens — Greece’s leading unions launched on Thursday a general strike that shut down several key sectors in protest over planned new pay cuts and taxes called for by international creditors. Civil servants, bank staff, merchant seamen, railway workers and state-employed doctors were among professionals taking part in the 24-hour stoppage against the measures, which are scheduled to be approved by legislators at the weekend. "We are reacting to repressive austerity, poverty and destitution ... once again we face absurd demands by [Greece’s EU-IMF] creditors," leading union GSEE said. Journalists had staged a one-day walkout on Wednesday. The country’s international creditors — fellow EU states and the IMF — want Greece to overhaul its labour legislation to make crippling strikes less likely while also facilitating layoffs. A new budget containing about €1bn from extra taxation on items including cars, fixed telephone service, pay TV, fuel, tobacco, coffee and beer is to be approved ...
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