Greek musems, sites closed on Friday due to strike

Archaeological sites and museums across the country were to remain closed to the public on Friday after staff called a 24-hour strike to protest planned government reforms aimed at streamlining the operations of the Culture Ministry as part of broader cutbacks demanded by foreign creditors.

The gates to the Acropolis were locked on Friday and bore a sign informing visitors that the site would be closed for the day. Tourists arriving at other sites across Greece faced similar disappointment.

In a written statement, striking employees expressed their opposition to the planned reforms which, they said, would put jobs at risk and compromise the work of the Culture Ministry.

Following talks with unionists representing the workers on Thursday, Alternate Culture Minister Costas Tzavaras has said that his ministry could not intervene in the broader government plan for streamlining the public sector.

Source: ekathimerini.com