Striking bus drivers defy court order

Last week's protests by underground employees over imposed salary cuts for public-sector workers were ended by emergency decree.

But the bus drivers union continued its rolling 24-hour strikes, a day after a court ruled the protest illegal.

The strikes were called to protest against a government decision to cancel annual pay agreements and impose additional cuts.

The government issued a civil mobilisation order last week that forced striking underground workers to end an eight-day strike.

"This tactic of mobilisation, to blackmail us, will not work," warned the striking busworkers' union leader Leonidas Skoulas.

Staff at Greece's Public Power Corporation have called a 24-hour strike for Thursday, while other workers are planning stoppages on that day.

Public-sector workers have seen their income axed by 50 per cent with the latest reductions.