Preparations for the 2004 budget are moving into their final stretch, with Cabinet discussions on the issue Thursday and next Monday. The 2003 deficit is expected to diverge, mainly due to the subsidies to deal with weather phenomena. At the same time, pressures from various branches of employment greater increases than the ones offered by the government, are growing stronger. Specifically, the university and technical educational institution professors strike is continuing, there is a three-hour walk-out in Athens and Piraeus hospitals, and judicial employees will go on a 48-hour strike on Wednesday and Thursday.