Appeals council backs judges’ strike

The plenary session of the Council of Appeals Court Judges on Thursday voted unanimously to back protest action by the country?s judges, which enters its fifth day on Friday.

The judges have been holding rolling work stoppages and sit-ins at courts since Monday. They are protesting the latest austerity measures, which will see a reduction in their wages, but they were also angered by comments made by Prime Minister George Papandreou earlier this week.

The premier suggested to PASOK MPs that the problems in the Greek judicial system were partly a result of foot-dragging by judges.

Justice Minister Miltiadis Papaioannou warned the justices on Wednesday that the Constitution does not allow them to go on strike.