Labour disputes cause mayhem in Greece

More misery in Greece as engineers and train drivers protest tough austerity measures - with a 24-hour strike causing chaos in Athens.

Around 100 angry engineers blocked the streets around the finance ministry to protest changes to their pensions and health insurance.

They say the integration of their insurance into a state-run health fund will lead to less medical services.

This engineer said the future of the profession is at stake, with young recruits having to quit because they can't afford the new insurance payments.

Greece's labour minsiter defended the controversial labour reforms in parliament.

He said the situation was 'tragic' but things had to change because 400 to 500 million euros in its pension funds was being lost every year.

A flash train and metro strike resulted in sprawling traffic jams - bringing further misery to beleaguered Greek commuters.

The government-introduced unpopular austerity measures are required to appease EU and IMF lenders and secure bailout money Athens desperately needs to avoid running out of cash next month.