On Wednesday (local time), thousands of state sector workers walked off the job and marched against wage cuts, tax hikes and layoffs the government says are needed to pull Greece out of a huge fiscal crisis that has rocked global markets and the euro zone.
Dozens of stone-throwing youths clashed with riot police, but most of the demonstrators marched peacefully, determined to have their voices heard, yet saying they expected it to have little effect on politicians who have stopped listening.
"Deep inside I believe we've already gone bankrupt, but we must keep fighting," said 52-year-old Niki Xydous, who has two unemployed sons and a husband who risks losing his state job.
"I want the government to step down, but what's the point of having elections now? Nothing will change," she said protesting at Athens' Klafthmonos Square -- or Square of Tears, named in honour of civil servants who marched for labour rights there a century ago.
It was the first nationwide strike for months, but follows repeated walkouts called by labour unions since Greece resorted to the European Union and the International Monetary Fund last year for its first of two huge bailout.
Halfway through its four-year term, the Socialist government lags behind the conservative New Democracy party in opinion polls, but spreading disgust with politicians means opposition parties have not benefited much from public anger.
Although most Greeks want to keep membership in the euro single currency, surveys show nearly four out of five expect the country to default on its massive national debt within months.
"No, we don't want to return to the drachma, but maybe we have to reach the bottom to start again," said 54-year-old public sector worker Petros Kloutsos. "Now, we have no money even for groceries. How will we make ends meet?"
Despite its new wave of measures, the government said this week it would still fall short of its 2011 deficit target. It called on the public to show solidarity and accept reforms.
As austerity takes its toll and unemployment rises above 16 percent, protesters carrying banners reading "We resist!" and waving black flags outside parliament say they fear the worst still lies ahead.
"We can only shout and resist, and even that seems difficult now," said 60-year-old teacher Costas Stylianou, protesting with his wife. "There is no way they'll get us out of the crisis, they are just pushing us deeper into it."
"We haven't reached the point of having nothing to eat, but I don't know whether I'll have enough to pay my bank loan next month. I see tough days coming."
