24 General strike

On 29 June 2010 workers in Greece began the latest 24-hour general strike in protest of government austerity measures demanded by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Union (EU). The work stoppage resulted in the suspension of local transportation services and the cancellation of approximately 100 domestic flights, but airports remained open and there were no disruptions to international flights. At the port of Piraeus, dock workers blocked ferry entrances, preventing tourists from boarding, while medical workers and journalists across the country participated in the strike, leaving hospitals with only emergency staff. Tens of thousands of protesters gathered in Athens for three large-scale demonstrations organized by labor groups. The protests were largely peaceful, but clashes broke out during one demonstration after masked protesters set trashcans on fire and hurled rocks at police officers, prompting the latter to use tear gas and stun grenades to disperse them. At least one police officer sustained injuries in the violence.