Greek journalists strike for better conditions

Thousands of journalists around Greece have taken part in a 24-hour strike.

They are protesting for better working conditions.

The strike has affected scores of broadcasters and publications.

The strike caused Greece's major television and radio stations to cancel news programmes and is expected to stop the issue of all main newspapers.

The strike has also affected the state-run Athens News Agency.

Internet sites and stock market reports have also been disrupted.

The strike was organised by the Athens Journalists Union, the country's largest with more than 2,000 members, and joined other journalists unions, reporters and media staff nationwide.

"Most employees in the media receive very low salaries for working long hours, without overtime and compensation for working on Sundays," the Athens Journalists Union said in a statement.

The union is seeking a 5% pay hike from now-stalled annual wage negotiations with employers, as well as extra pay for journalists who have university degrees and use computers.

They want pay increases to be above the inflation rate, which was slightly over 3% in March. The union also wants collective wage agreements to include all journalists, regardless of the media where they work.