10:56

Greek flag flutters in front of the ancient Parthenon temple atop the Acropolis hill archaeological site in Athens. Photograph: Marko Djurica/REUTERS

Greece’s summer of discontent is hearing up.

After striking rubbish collectors, guards at Greece’s plethora of archaeological sites and museums are gearing up for a fight with prime minister Alexis Tsipras’ government.

Helena Smith reports from Athens.

Culture ministry employees seconded to guard museums and archaeological sites announced they will walk off the job Thursday to press demands for better work conditions, including permanent positions. The strike, at the height of the tourist season, will keep all sites and museums closed including Athens’ most visited monument, the 5th century BC Acropolis.

In a statement, the employees’ union said it wanted the Greek prime minister “to immediately realise his promise” to hire 200 extra guards at sites where understaffing was leading “with mathematical precision” to either closure or safety issues.

The Acropolis and other gems are expected to remained closed for several hours on Thursday morning.

Culture ministry budgets have suffered greatly under the cuts demanded by international creditors keeping Greece’s debt-stricken economy afloat. The leftist-led government, though sympathetic to the plight of employees who are also demanding overtime, is stuck between a rock and hard place in terms of satisfying demands that run counter to the tough strictures of creditors.