Athens - All flights to and from Greece will be suspended for several hours on Tuesday during the latest nationwide strike which will also shut down banks, schools, public transport and enforce a news blackout to protest drastic economic policies.

Air traffic controllers were due to stop work for four hours, as of noon, as part of the strike called by Greece's two largest unions, private sector federation GSEE and public sector ADEDY, representing more than half of the country's 5 million workforce.

Workers at partially-privatized telecommunication company OTE, the state-run Public Power Corporation, state hospital employees and print and broadcast journalists will also walk off the job for 24-hours at sunset Tuesday.

The strike, which will affect state carrier Olympic Airlines and Aegean Airlines, will cover more than 100 flights to European destinations such as London, Rome, Paris and Frankfurt, reports said. Some domestic flights would also be cancelled.

Urban transport such as buses, trolley buses and trams will also be disrupted as employees stage numerous work stoppages throughout the day.

Aside from airport staff, dockers, post office employees and workers at the national railway also joined in the strike to protest plans to privatize companies such as Olympic and protest labour reforms which are likely to target pension benefits.

Union workers are expected to rally through Athens and the northern port city of Thessaloniki at noon.

The country's main unions are protesting against the 2009 budget which is expected to go to parliament for debate this week, saying it fails to ensure workers protection from privatisations, pensions and tax collecting measures.

Last month, the Greek government launched a tender to sell off the ailing airline, saying it would find new public sector jobs for its workers, but union leaders have pledged to halt the privatization.

The conservative government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and rocked by recent scandals, said it will push forward with reforms and privatizations despite union opposition. It has promised to protect the average Greek from high inflation hikes. (dpa)