Athens - Air transport across Greece is set to be paralyzed on Wednesday as air traffic controllers planned a three hour stoppage, forcing the cancellation of dozens of international and domestic flights.

Air traffic controllers announced they will walk off the job from 9 am to 12pm (0800 to 1100 GMT) as part of a nationwide strike called by Greece's largest public sector union ADEDY.

Most international airlines had informed their customers of the strike and re-booked them on flights for Thursday, Greek radio reported.

The air traffic controllers were demanding the hiring of extra staff and an improvement in their health-care benefits.

The nationwide public sector strike will also affect all state-run schools as teachers opted to stay away from the classroom and all state services. Hospitals will be operating on emergency staff.

Greece's public-sector ADEDY union is protesting against the government's recent pension reforms, which raise the retirement age and cut back benefits.

The union also opposes recent labour reforms, privatizations and tax-raising measures.

The strike follows weeks of riots across Greece in December by youths whose economic future is bleak in a country with a high unemployment rate and low wages.

Unemployment is over 7 per cent, and nearly 20 per cent of Greeks live below the poverty line, earning less than 600 euros (775 dollars) a month. (dpa)