Samaras: Public transport does not belong to the unions

 

The entire statement of the premier is as follows:

 

"The Greek people have made sacrifices. Enormous sacrifices. And I cannot allow any exceptions.

Besides, the means of public transport do not belong to the unions. They belong to the people who have the right to use them and not to be pestered from morning till night. Everyone must understand that the mistakes of the past will not be repeated. Straight talk."

 

The Greek government decided to proceed with the conscription of the strikers in the metro and other means of public transport, as announced earlier by Development minister Kostis Hatzidakis, after the meeting with Antonis Samaras outside the Maximos Mansion.

 

"We proceed to the measure of conscription. Neither the government nor society can be held hostage under corporatist attitudes," Hatzidakis said, and accused the strikers of disregarding the court rulings.

 

 

PASOK president Evangelos Venizelos described the strike in public transport as unacceptable, talked about an unthinkable provocation and how the options that turn society against the workers undermine the credibility of the labor movement in society. Such a decision, he continued, has nothing to do with the needs of society and the era.

 

 

"Conscription is an extreme crisis management option and finds the Democratic Left against it. At a time when society is under enormous pressure, what is needed is exhausting every possibility for consultations. Intransigence on either side does not help in finding solutions," said Fotis Kouvelis’ party on the government's decision.

 

 

"The coalition government was dressed in khaki and with a new coup d'état against the Constitution enlisted the striking METRO employees, trying to break up their fight with military-style measures," SYRIZA deputy Dimitris Stratoulis said, referring to the government's decision to enforce conscription upon the Metro workers.

 

He added that the purpose of the Greek government is to abolish all collective labor agreements, leading the wages and labor rights of workers in the public and private sectors to an even greater decrease.