GREEK unions will stage a general strike today in protest against government plans to restrict the right to take industrial action.

Prime minister Alexis Tsipras’s coalition government struck a deal with the country’s bailout creditors last week that will also see further privatisation of a state power company.

Clashes outside the office of Mr Tsipras followed the announcement of the deal and calling of the general strike by the ADEDY civil servants’ union, to protest against pension and salary cuts and to demand pay rises and public-sector hiring.

Private-sector unions are also due to take part in the strike.

Unemployment in Greece remains at 20 per cent as the government continues to cut jobs, salaries and pensions to secure further bailout cash, used to pay off debt issued by private banks but now held by other European governments.

Greek Communist Party (KKE) spokesman Christos Katsotis branded the coalition a “government of dirty tricks” taking instructions from bailout creditors while KKE general secretary Dimitria Koutsoumpas said: “You are a ruthless government that has no remorse, in order to serve the interests of capital.”

The party’s affiliated trade union front PAME said: “The amendment that abolishes the right to strike will not pass. Even if it is approved the workers will overrule it in practice.”