Greek municipal workers react against job cuts
Athens municipal workers angered by civil servant reduction plans occupy municipal building
ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- Athens municipal police, angered by their inclusion in a government plan to reduce the number of civil servants and meet international bailout requirements, have occupied a municipal building in downtown Athens.
The main union for municipal workers, who have been on strike for the past two days, has called for building occupations on Wednesday and Thursday, and has extended rolling 24-hour strikes for the rest of the week.
Greece's international creditors on Monday approved releasing 6.8 billion euros ($8.7 billion) in rescue loans, despite the government missing a deadline to place 12,500 workers in an involuntary transfer program.
On Tuesday, the government announced it was placing 4,200 workers — including school guards and teachers — on an eight-month suspension with reduced pay this month.
