Greek university and technical college professors will be holding a rally in central Athens at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, their unions said, in protest at plans to further reduce public sector spending.

The three unions representing educators at tertiary institutions said they will form a «symbolic barricade» of the ministries of Finance and Development in Syntagma Square, before marching on to the main building of the University of Athens on Panepistimiou Street, where there will be artistic events in support of their demands.

The unions have drafted letters addressed to Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras and Development Minister Costis Hadjidakis, demanding a meeting to discuss their complaints.

Among these complaints are charges that cutbacks to professors' salaries and to university and technical college budgets «are making the smooth operation of institutions of higher education and research problematic if not impossible."

Their letter also says that «we believe that you agree that overcoming one of the biggest crises in the country's recent history requires -- among others -- the mobilization of all the economic, productive, scientific, social and intellectual forces of this country."