Lawyers extend strike to May 7 as system blocks up

Bar associations across Greece agreed this week to extend ongoing strike action in protest at social security and tax reforms until May 7, arguing that the new legislation being debated in Parliament will choke off their livelihoods.

Greek lawyers also argue that the planned merger of all the country's public and private social security providers into one unified body is in violation of the country's constitution.

Lawyers have been on strike for several months, along with notaries, leading to a massive backlog in court proceedings.