Athens, Greece (CNN) -- Greek workers went on strike Monday, marching to parliament to protest cuts in government spending demanded by international funders.
Garbage collectors, cleaners, municipal office workers and other local government staff gathered Monday morning, waving banners with slogans like "Get your hands off our rights".
A €110 billion ($146 billion) aid package for Greece was announced Sunday, but Athens is introducing tough austerity measures to meet European Union and International Monetary Fund conditions on the deal.
German leader Angela Merkel tried to rally her country behind the deal Monday, since Berlin will have to come up with the lion's share of the funds, but the bailout is unpopular there.
"It doesn't mean only that we help Greece, but it also means that we can stabilize the euro in total and that we also help the people in Germany," she said.
Greece's Federation of Local Government Workers called the 24-hour strike for municipalities across the country Monday.
It appeared to be small and peaceful in Athens, but an even broader strike has been called for Wednesday.
Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou announced tough cost-cutting measures Sunday in order for Greece to secure its financial lifeline.
Some €80 billion ($106 billion) will be made available through European Union members, with up to 30 billion available in the first year, Eurogroup President Jean-Claude Juncker said in announcing the agreement Sunday evening from Brussels, Belgium.
Up to €30 billion ($40 billion) will be available in the first year, Juncker said, with the first funds released made before May 19.
The package includes a promise by Greece to cut its budget deficit to 3 percent of gross domestic product, as required by European Union rules, by 2014, according to Papaconstantinou.
Greece had a choice between "destruction" and saving the country, and "we have chosen of course to save the country," Papaconstantinou said.
CNN
