Greeks protest ahead of vote on new austerity measures

"We are absolutely opposed to the 50 percent plus one quorum. It abolishes the right to protest," he said.

Under the bill, first-level labor unions will need an absolute majority of at least 50 percent of active members who pay dues before declaring a strike in the future. Currently, the percentage stands at only one third of union members.

The quorum allowed unions to stage dozens of strikes during the past eight years of the debt crisis.

Employer's unions have supported the new strike rules, arguing that strikes have harmed the already ailing economy which is struggling to recover.

Under the bill, as of Feb 21 auctions of foreclosed properties will be conducted only electronically. The measure is widely regarded as an attempt to avoid the protests.

Under bailout conditions, Greek banks need to reduce non-performing loans in their portfolios.

But Paidas explained that it was not as if the people who took out loans were not avoiding paying off their debts, rather they couldn't afford to.

"People took loans 10 years ago on different terms and after suffering wage cuts of 30 to 40 percent they can no longer pay their loans under the same conditions...We are asking for measures so that they will not lose their primary homes," he told Xinhua.

Nearly one in 10 public servants are struggling to pay their mortgages and risk losing their properties, he said.