May day protests spread across Europe

Greeks rally in Athens - something they've had time to get used to.

The country is now in its sixth year of recession.

Its main private and public sector unions chose May Day to call a 24-hour general strike.

And workers protested against the government's austerity measures.

Unemployment stands at 27 percent and pay and pensions have been slashed.

There's more pain to come.

The government plans to sack 15,000 civil servants to make way for new cheaper workers.

(SOUNDBITE)(English) UNEMPLOYED UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR SAYING:

"We are here to fight, we are here to stay, and we are here to win for the working class people, and for our people here in Greece and why not, all over the world."

Athens ground to a standstill.

Ferries services were cancelled with only a partial rail service running.

Lloyds', Trevor Williams says Europe could be facing a summer of discontent.

SOUNDBITE: Trevor Williams, Chief Economist, Lloyds B