Acropolis still closed by Greek workers strike

ATHENS (CNN) -- Greece's most-visited site, the Acropolis, has been closed to tourists for over a week by a strike by of Greek Culture Ministry employees. A court will rule Wednesday on the government's demand for the walkout to be declared "illegal."

"We offer our deepest sympathy and understanding to tourists but only the government can resolve this problem," said Yannis Dimakakos, president of the Union of Museum Guards.

His union is part of the Panhellenic Federation of Culture Ministry Unions (OSYPA), which has staged periodic walkouts since February 10 to press for pay rises and bigger bonuses.

Visitors who walk up the steep hill to the entrance to the Parthenon and other Classical marble temples find a sign reading: "The Acropolis is closed due to a strike by Culture Ministry employees."

Apart from the Acropolis, visited by millions of tourists every year, the strike has also shut down attractions in the northern city of Salonika -- the Archeological Museum, the Byzantine Museum and the White Tower.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Related sites:

• The Acropolis
• Macedonian Press Agency

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