Greece hit with new strikes

Athens - Strikes have been off the agenda during the hottest Greek summer on record. Now, as temperatures start to cool and the latest round of austerity measures are announced, the first wave of strike action has begun.

On Friday morning police, firefighters and coast guard officers held a protest rally outside the Ministry of Finance in Syntagma Square, to protest further wage cuts. According to To Vima the uniformed services will see additional cuts in annual salary ranging from 28.74 to 45.45 percent, depending on grade and years of service. Ekathimerini reported union representatives will seek a meeting with Greece's Troika of international lenders, the EU, ECB and IMF. The intention is to hold further rallies and strikes to protest against pay cuts. Friday's protest rally followed on the heels of strike action by municipal garbage collectors on Wednesday who called a 48-hour strike in protest against reduced salaries. During their protest on Wednesday riot police used tear gas on trash collectors. Teachers are due to strike on September 12, one day after the schools re-open following the 13-week summer holidays.