ATHENS, Unions and employers' associations in Greece have rejected demands for wage cuts in the private sector, despite pressure from rescue creditors who have called for additional austerity during negotiations for massive new debt-relief deals.

In a letter to the government Friday, unions and employers said they were in agreement not to slash the minimum wage or annual salaries paid to Greek workers in 14 installments.

Wage costs have emerged as a sticking point in negotiations between the government and rescue creditors from Greece's partners in the eurozone and the International Monetary Fund for a new bailout worth €130 billion ($170 billion).

Without that deal, and a related debt cancellation from banks, Greece would go bankrupt in late March.

(AP)