Greek urban transport ground to a halt on Thursday, as bus and metro drivers went on a 24-hour strike to protest against government plans for the restructuring of the country's loss-making state-run transport sector. Streamlining spendthrift public bus and train companies is a key condition in the 110 billion euro ($144.5 billion) EU/IMF bailout for the debt-laden country.
The cabinet gave the green light on Wednesday to a bill merging urban transport companies and hiking fares. The bill is expected to become a law next month, as the ruling Socialists have a majority in the 300-seat parliament. The urban transport operators of Athens are among the country's most loss-making state firms, dogged by decades of mismanagement, high wages and low fares.