Workers’ worst nightmares

The adjustments for the preponderance of special labor contracts against sectorals create new data on the labor market, introducing wage cuts without avoiding lay offs and even lower compensation.

Minister of Labor Louka Katseli won on the issues of retention of the extension of sectoral agreements and the amount of 740 euros, but fell back in key issues such as that of redundancy.

However, there are pending matters concerning the agreement with the Troika, which the government asserts will not alter the substance of the bill.

But which are the most serious losses for workers in the private sector?

    * the possibility of wage cuts
    * the fact that layoffs are not prohibited as long as the number of employees remains unchanged

Besides layoffs and salary cuts, other things for negotiation are flexible, including part time or rotational working hours and the duration of the contract with diminished earnings, which can even exceed two years if the partners agree.

Also:

    * specific justification is not needed for the signing of business contracts
    * eligibility for entry to suspension status is increased
    * tough welcome for new workers
    * no refunds for workers on probation in the first year (instead of 2 months which has been the case until now)

GSEE and employers

GSEE states that no “unioned” workers will co-sign for wage cuts or layoffs, and is organizing strikes and protest rallies on Tuesday.

SEB claims that business members do not seem willing to make extensive use of the new contracts with lower pay, and invites employees to open dialogue, stressing that “the real quality and substance of labor relationships is not only determined by the laws passed, but by the prevalent perceptions too.”

ESEE president Vasilis Korkidis has stated his disagreement as concerns pay cuts and layoffs in times of recession that will lead to a drop in consumption.

Bank employees are also in turmoil and according to the OTOE decision, are launching a 48-hour strike on December 14 and 15 in reaction to the 3rd updated memorandum, which modifies their labor status to the same level as that of the rest of the private sector workers.

According to OTOE, the regulations that are now being passed in Parliament lead to pay cuts, further flexibility and deregulation of working hours.

Repeated 24-hour strikes have been announced by the ATE bank employee committee from Monday, reacting to the pay cuts and the shrinking of bank operations.