The wave of strikes in Athens public transport to protest against government reforms that include wage cuts and forced staff transfers will resume after the Christmas holidays, trade unionists revealed on Saturday.

Bus drivers and staff are planning further work stoppages next Wednesday, from the start of their shift until 8:00 a.m. and from 10:00 p.m. until the end of the shift. This means buses will be running between 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. on that day.

Similar work stoppages held at different hours are also planned after the New Year, on January 3, 5 and 10.

No announcements concerning planned strikes have yet been made by unions for other forms of public transport in the capital.

A 48-hour strike called by the civil aviation staff union OSYPA on December 29 and 30 was declared illegal by an Athens first-instance court, after management at the Civil Aviation Service filed to have the strike declared illegal and abusive.

Members of OSYPA, in response to the ruling on Friday, said that they would resort to other forms of labour mobilisation in protest against the government's plans for mandatory transfers of some 500 mechanics and pilots of the former Olympic Airways currently employed by the CAS.

They did not reveal what form this action would take but it may result in minor problems with ground handling, especially in regional airports around the country.