By Renee Maltezou
ATHENS (Reuters) - Millions of Greeks took part in 24-hournationwide strike on Wednesday to protest against plannedpension reforms, grounding flights, confining ships to port andclosing schools, ministries and banks, unions said.
Streets in central Athens were largely deserted except forpeople gathering for a mass rally to protest against reformswhich they say will curtail benefits.
"The participation in the strike is total. We are talkingabout millions," said Spyros Papaspyros, president of the civilservants umbrella union ADEDY, one of the strike organisers."The government must not underestimate this public outrage."
The conservative government did not immediately comment onthe turnout.
Legislation that aims to overhaul the ailing socialsecurity system, which experts say is destined to collapse in15 years if left unchanged, goes to parliament for a final voteon Thursday.
"We will not weigh the political cost when called to comethrough with the pension reform we promised the Greek people,"Labour Minister Fani Palli Petralia told parliament. "We cannotpostpone or push (it) back -- the problem is here."
The government needs the backing of all its 151 deputies inthe 300-seat assembly to pass the bill.
Unions say the reforms limit workers' benefits withoutimproving the system. Protests have caused blackouts, leftmountains of rubbish in the street, disrupted transport andservices, and halted trading on financial markets for days.
At least 150 flights could be cancelled on Wednesday andmany more delayed because air traffic controllers were takingpart in the strike.
Monuments and the Athens Acropolis planned to close earlybecause of a walkout by guards planned for noon. Schools,ministries and banks were closed.
The reform bill affects mostly women, and especiallyworking mothers, who until now could retire earlier and in somecases with full benefits. It merges scores of funds into just13, offers incentives for workers to stay at work longer andcuts many special pensions.
(Writing by Dina Kyriakidou, editing by Timothy Heritage)
