General strike in Greece Feb 4 over pension reform: unions

Greek unions on Friday announced a general strike against a planned overhaul of the country's ailing pensions system.

"A 24-hour strike on February 4 has been decided," the main private-sector union GSEE said.

"The social security bill destroys pensioners, wage earners and mainly the future of the new generation," the union said.

Greece is under pressure from its international creditors to reduce spending on pensions which is the highest in the European Union.

Greece's leftist government has announced plans to lower the maximum pension to 2,300 euros ($2,500) from 2,700 euros currently, and introduce a new minimum guaranteed basic pension of 384 euros. it also wants to increase social security contributions by both employers and staff.