Municipal workers attempt to storm Administrative Reform Ministry

Members of the union representing local authority workers (POE-OTA) tried to storm the Administrative Reform Ministry near the Parliament building in Athens Thursday morning, protesting the government's austerity policies and demanding permanent status for civil servants on short-term contracts.

A crowd of workers entered the yard in front of the ministry, demanding a meeting with Minister Olga Gerovasili, but were prevented from entering the building. They stopped the protest when Gerovasili agreed to meet them in the afternoon.

POE-OTA has called a 48-hour strike next Monday and Tuesday in protest at a new round of austerity pledged to Greece's creditors by the leftist-led coalition.