A general strike over economic policy grounded flights, closed banks and schools and restricted hospital services in Greece on Wednesday, piling pressure on a conservative government hit by the worst riots in decades.

Workers chanting anti-government slogans gathered in central Athens before a rally called by Greece’s two main union federations against economic policy. ”Participation in the strike is total, the country has come to a standstill,” said Stathis Anestis, spokesman for the GSEE private sector union federation.