Striking public transport workers in Athens have defied a court order to return to work, despite a government threat to impose an emergency order that could lead to prosecution.

Unions representing public bus and trolley-bus drivers in the Greek capital continued their rolling 24-hour strikes Monday, a day after a court ruled their protest illegal.

Several state-run transport services were also halted to protest a government decision to cancel their annual pay agreements and impose pay cuts as part of an overhaul in public sector salary payments. The action was taken under cash-strapped Greece's commitments to bailout creditors.

Last week, the conservative-led government issued an emergency decree that forced striking subway workers to end an eight-day strike.