Teachers, garbage collectors and other striking workers rallied in central Athens Monday, but Greece's embattled Socialist government refused their demands for higher pre-election pay hikes.

The wave of strikes, intensifying this week, is due to disrupt transport and many basic services.

State-run hospitals in Athens operated on emergency staff Monday, the ambulance services were affected by stoppages, while strikes also closed schools and universities across Greece.

Union demands for salary hikes have soured traditionally friendly relations with the governing Socialists, who face general elections in the spring.

"The government has never refused dialogue with unions but has made clear there is no more room for salary raises," government spokesman Christos Protopapas told state-run NET radio.

Starting Wednesday, taxi drivers will hold a 48-hour nationwide strike, affecting transport to the country's ports and airports. Striking slaughter house employees are defying a court order to return to work.

And officers from Greece's police, coast guard and fire department - while remaining at work - launched a protest campaign to demand hazard pay. They plan to hand out leaflets to travelers at Athens international airport.