Offices closed, flights canceled in Greece amid massive public protests

Greek government offices are shut today and flights in and out of the country have been canceled as public workers strike to protest austerity measures three days after the government unveiled additional spending cuts for 2011.

Government services are paralyzed, schools were closed and public hospitals were operating with limited staff. Air traffic controllers at the country's biggest airports will walk off the job from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. forcing the cancellation or rescheduling of dozens of domestic and international flights, Bloomberg reports.

The latest strike follows on the heels of industrial action in September from truck drivers, protesting at the liberalization of their profession, and railway workers who are set against privatization of their deeply indebted organization.

Later this autumn, mores strikes are expected, from lawyers, pharmacists, taxi drivers and others resisting liberalization of their cosseted professions, Wall Street Journal says.