Greece strike causes mayhem

Buses and trains stopped, banks closed and cash machine supplies ran low yesterday as a 24-hour strike by Greek private sector workers against government pension fund reforms caused chaos across the country.

Flights of state carrier Olympic Airlines were disrupted as cabin crews stopped work while sailings from Piraeus, the country's main port, were restricted to one ferry per destination.

The private sector umbrella trade union GSEE, which had already staged industrial action on June 16, says the proposed reforms threaten pension rights, raise the retirement age and put a heavy burden on the main social security fund.