Greek Union Calls for 2-Day Public Sector Strike

Greece's main public sector trade union, Adedy, launched a call Friday for a two-day strike next month in protest against job lay-offs included in an economic overhaul demanded by the country's creditors.

Adedy, in a statement, criticised the government's "submission" to proposals from the European Union and International Monetary Fund that would "destroy the public sector and the welfare state".

The strike action was called for September 18 and 19.

Greece has agreed to put 12,500 civil servants on a redeployment scheme by the end of September, as part of a general restructuring of its public sector, in return for the next instalment of its EU-IMF rescue loans.

Workers have to accept new posts or spend eight months on reduced salaries as alternative posts are found, with the risk of losing their jobs altogether.

The government redeployed 4,000 civil servants at the end of July, mostly teaching staff.

On Thursday, 1,500 civil servants marched in Athens to protest against the lay-offs and job transfers.

The Adedy union urged other professional sectors to join in next month's planned strike action.

An opinion poll published last month showed that more than half of Greek voters are in favour of the public sector redundancies.

Representatives of Greece's creditors, the EU, IMF and European Central Bank, are expected in Athens at the end of September to conduct a regular audit.