GREEK public transport and media workers have launched a week of strikes, contesting a planned new round of austerity measures needed for a creditor lifeline to the crisis-gripped and cash-strapped nation.
MPs are set to vote on Wednesday on a bill that will bring 18.5 billion euros ($A23 billion) in cuts and other reforms by 2016.
But the bill had not been introduced to parliament by Monday afternoon and could be delayed until midnight, a finance ministry source said, as the coalition government's three leaders grappled for a compromise on the latest cuts.
In Athens on Monday, the metro was shut and only one tram line was running, while taxi drivers halted services, severely disrupting traffic in the capital.
The country was also hit by a media blackout as print, broadcast and electronic media journalists staged a 24-hour strike.
Service at hospitals was slow as only some employees reported for work.
The union of the public electricity company, DEI, meanwhile announced renewable 48-hour strikes from Monday evening, although it did not say whether this would lead to power cuts.
The latest savings plan includes salary and retirement cuts, reductions in civil servant staffing and further labour market deregulation.
Implementing the austerity plan is a precondition for Greece to qualify for a 31.5-billion-euro tranche of bailout funds from the European Union, International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank.
Without it, Greece risks bankruptcy in mid-November.
The walkout is expected to intensify throughout the country on Tuesday and Wednesday as public union GSEE and private union Adedy have both called general strikes.
Bus workers are expected to join the stoppage from Tuesday, completing the public transport shutdown in Athens, while ferry lines to surrounding islands will be cut for 48 hours.
A three-hour work stoppage has also been announced by air traffic controllers.
In addition, unions have planned demonstrations from Tuesday in the centre of Athens against the package of 18 billion euros in cuts and other reforms to be put to a vote in parliament on Wednesday.
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