The civil servants’ union (ADEDY) and scores of unions and federations representing wage-earners in Greece’s private sector have called a 24-hour strike for Tuesday (Oct. 14), although compared to previous such industrial actions repercussions on the day are expected to be milder.
Specifically, buses in the greater Athens-Piraeus agglomeration – where roughly half of the country’s residents live – will operate as normal between 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The metro and tram lines will operate between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Just as importantly, the air traffic controllers’ union, as of Monday afternoon, had not announced any industrial action. A previous strike by the air traffic controllers’ union was ruled as illegal by an Athens first instance court.
Conversely, train services are expected to be cancelled during the day, with ferry services also drastically affected.
Although educators’ unions have also called a strike, participation by teachers and educators is usually infinitesimal. Banks, the wholesale and retail sectors, including supermarkets, and self-employed professionals usually record no interruption in services.
The main rallies will again be held in central Athens, which means that most of the capital’s downtown streets will be congested.
While not affecting wage-earners in the civil service and wider public sector, the main criticism by unions is a provision in a draft bill allowing the “expansion of the possibility of working up to 13 hours per day, which already applies to two employers, and the same (one) employer, with strict compliance with all employment and rest limits.”
While allowing a wage-earner to work two separate jobs a day, with a maximum of 13 hours in a 24-hour basis, the liberalization would allow the same regime for an employee with a sole employer – assuming that the latter accepts, in writing, working overtime during specific periods.
The civil servants’ union also wants a reinstitution of two extra months of pay (13th and 14th) that were axed during the outbreak of the Greek economic crisis in 2010. Wage-earners in the private sector are still remunerated with 14 monthly salaries.
The relevant labor and social insurances ministry has billed the draft legislation, split along six axes, as attempting to modernize Greece’s labor sector and simplifying hiring, registering daily work and ensuring a transparent framework between employee and employer.
Other highlighted reforms, according to the ministry, are a registration of a hire with one document, instead of four, fast-track hirings via a cellphone app for up two days, abolishing print material to record vacations, a digital work card, increasing overtime pay, as well as the contentious provision to allow a 13-hour work day, if an employee consents.
Another provision allows for a four-day work week, while a parental bonus will be rendered as protected vis-a-vis tax arrears or court seizures.
