Greece

Unions protest as pensions bill is passed

The two main trade union confederations - GSEE in the private sector and ADEDY in the public sector - have pledged to continue their protests against government pension reforms despite the passage of new legislation. Their immediate aim is to support calls for a referendum on the reforms that is due to be discussed in parliament. Read more at > javno news website (EN)

Pension reform plans meet resistance

Unions are taking strike action in protest at government plans for pension reform. The GENOP electricity sector union is the latest to join the action forcing the PPC power company to import electricity from abroad. The key reforms will mean a higher retirement age and incentives for workers to remain at work longer. Pension arrangements at the PPC are affected but the main public sector schemes are not covered by the current proposals. Read more at > Reuters (EN) And at > The Guardian (EN)

Union confederations unite in strike over pensions

The GSEE private sector confederation and ADEDY public sector confederation called a 24-hour strike on 12 December in protest at government pension reforms. News reports indicate a high level of support from workers in both sectors. Read more at > Reuters (EN)

Health workers stage 48-hour strike

Higher pay, increased funding and more permanent workers are the three main issues behind a 48-hour strike by hospital workers beginning on 5 December. Read more at > Ekathimerini news site (EN)

National private sector pay deal for 2006-2007

The EIRO industrial relations observatory reports that the national private sector pay agreement in Greece will mean backdated increases on minimum wages of 2.9% from 1 January 2006 and 2.9% from 1 September 2006 with a 5.1% increase from 1 January 2007. According to the Eurostat statistical agency inflation in Greece has averaged around 3.4% over the last 12 months. Read more at > EIRO (EN)

New code for civil servants

The EIRO industrial relations observatory reports that the Greek civil service is due to implement a new code in 2007 that will introduce changes to a number of conditions including leave, disciplinary matters, job transfers and promotion. ADEDY, the civil service union, is concerned that proposals to assess civil servants’ performance and competence are too subjective. Read more at > EIRO (EN)

Health union organises series of strikes

Public hospital workers organised by the POEDIN trade union, part of the ADEDY federation, have been involved in a series of stoppages during June in protest at health service funding and job classification. A 24-hour strike on 13 June was followed by shorter strikes action on 14, 15 and 16 and will be followed by further stoppages on 20 and 22 June. Read more at > POEDIN (GR) And at > the ERT news service (EN)

Unions continue national action

A general strike on 10 May was the latest stage in the Greek unions’ campaign against government proposals on privatisation, pension cuts and public sector pay and conditions. Both the GSEE general union federation and ADEDY civil servants’ union backed the strike. EPSU sent a message of solidarity. Read more at > the ERT news website And at > EPSU

Waste workers on strike in Athens

Municipal waste collection workers have been on strike in Athens over improved pay and benefits. Part of the union’s claim is to get the work classified as hazardous which would entitle workers to higher pay. A 24-hour strike was called again on 13 April when planned talks failed to take place. Read more at > Ekathimerini And at > BBC

Unions continue campaign against government policy

Public and private sectors unions organised another 24-hour general strike this month in protest at government policies on the economy, pay and privatisation. This followed the one-day general strike last December and action earlier last year in June and November. Read more at > BBC

Wide range of reasons behind strike action

A report from the EIRO industrial relations observatory provides some background to the strike action by public and private sector unions last December. The government wants to end civil servant status in the utilities and other public services and to intervene in collective bargaining in the sector. A series of privatisations are planned and more generally unions are campaigning over the high cost of living, rising unemployment and changes to working time regulations. Read more at >EIRO

Unions resist threat to collective bargaining

The ADEDY civil servants’ union will be joining the GSEE union federation in a general strike on 14 December in protest at government legislation that will undermine collective bargaining and which is aimed specifically at public enterprises. The one-day strike will be part of a week of action by trade unions across the country. Read more at > ERT news agency

Public sector workers continue pay and pensions campaign

Workers across the public sector have been continuing their campaign for improvements in the pay and pensions increases offered by the Greek government. All sectors have been involved in the action. Read more at > the ERT news website And more at > ERT

GREECE - national and local government workers take to the streets

The Greek civil service union ADEDY organised a four-hour stoppage on Friday 24 June while the local government workers’ union POE-OTA are taking action today. Both organisations are protesting at government plans to reform the social security system. The ADEDY action was called to coincide with action in the private sector where the banking unions in particular are campaigning against the imposition of later retirement. Read more at > ERT news website