General strike brings Greece to a halt, as unions protest austerity

• A general strike affects public transit, flights, garbage collection and hospital staffing


• It is the fourth general strike called by the labor unions this year


• Parliament is to vote Wednesday on further austerity measures


• Greece has to reform its public sector in order to receive international bailout funds

Athens (CNN) — A 24-hour general strike called Tuesday in protest over further austerity measures has brought many public services in Greece to a grinding halt.

Public transit systems, flights and garbage collection services are affected by the nationwide action — the fourth such to be held this year — while hospitals are running on skeleton staffing.

Labor unions held a rally in central Athens on Tuesday morning, to be followed by a march to the national parliament building.

A rally was also held outside parliament Monday night, but it did not attract large numbers of protesters. Many people have left the capital to escape the summer heat.

The general strike takes place ahead of a vote in parliament Wednesday on a bill containing further austerity measures. One would make it easier to fire people in the civil sector.

They must be voted in for Greece to receive the next tranche of international bailout funds.

The measures are expected to go through, as the coalition government holds a slim majority in parliament.

Greece, the first country to receive a European Union bailout more than three years ago, is struggling to bring its huge public debt under control.

The country is in its sixth straight year of recession, and unemployment stood at 26.8% as of March this year, according to official figures. The jobless rate among young people in Greece has soared to nearly 60%.

CNN’s Elinda Labropoulou reported in Athens, and Laura Smith-Spark wrote in London.

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General strike brings Greece to a halt, as unions protest austerity