Metro strike continues despite court ruling

Despite today's decision of the First Instance Court of Athens, which deemed the Metro workers’ protests illegal, they decided to go on their pre-announced strike on Tuesday.

Employees in the other steady track transport means remain unshakable in their positions, defying the Transport minister Kostis Hatzidakis’ warning about requisition.

Thus, electric rail and trams will not operate on Tuesday from 12 pm to 4 pm, while buses and trolleys will remain docked from 11 am to 4 pm due to the work stoppage of employees who complain about their inclusion in the unified payroll.

A joint meeting of all unions of public transport (STASY, OSY and OSE) will be held at 11 am on Tuesday in order to determine the future of their actions.

"There are terms and limits in a strike which I fear have been violated," Development Minister Kostis Hatzidakis said earlier.

Regarding STASY’s appeal to Justice, the SELMA (underground operating employees) and SIAM (electric rail operators) Unions argue that their request not to have their earnings cut is entirely legitimate, "as it would have been for any other worker."

Athens’ First Instance Court decision is about today's 24-hour Metro strike, and the one announced earlier by the workers for Tuesday. It also covers work stoppages that have been announced for the next day by electric rail and tram workers.

Earlier, commenting on the morning revelation by protothema.gr about strikers who are getting paid normally despite strikes and protests, Hatzidakis announced an investigation into the matter.

According to information provided by the minister, participation in strikes stands at low percentages. As he said on January 17, the percentage of striking workers in the Metro stood at 33%, while the next day with all public transport means on strike, the percentages stood at 48% for Metro workers, 44% for ISAP and just 4% for the tram.