Greek officials walk out as general strike over budget cuts looms

[FarCenter]

Tax collectors and customs officers in Greece have left their posts, launching a wave of strikes against economic austerity measures. Civil servants, doctors and private sector workers are also poised to stage walkouts.

Greek tax collectors and customs officials went on strike on Thursday, beginning a spate of anticipated strikes in the country to protest at government budget plans.

Revenue employees began a two-day walk out, which comes ahead of strikes planned by civil servants and doctors on February 10. A general strike could take place later this month, if agreed by members of the country's main private sector union GSEE which has 600,000 members.

Unions are angry with the government over an austerity program to cut back the country's huge deficit from 12.7 percent last year to less than 3 percent by 2012.

Some workers fear that the country's economic plan is too harsh and is being made even worse by market speculation that has damaged Greek finances.

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