As a new package of austerity measures this time particularly officials was approved in
late April, the strike school teachers called for the start of the examination period was
immediately banned by a new order of requisition, indicating Once again, after the
Forbidden workers strike Athens metro and sailors, a "permanent state of exception"
settled permanently in Greece to impose at all costs worst austerity measures throughout
Europe and to silence the opposition. ---- Little tour of European Laboratory of current
policies as the taxation of capital measures layoffs, wage cuts, dismantling of public
health, social destruction is combined with the gradual closure and continuous spaces of
expression and antagonism. ---- 1. New "omnibus" austerity law of 28 April ---- A law
establishing new austerity measures was passed by parliament Sunday, April 28.
The procedure was similar to that implemented by the government to pass the last
memorandum in November 2012, when the bill was passed not only with the emergency
procedure, but written in a single article, in order to deprive members the opportunity to
vote against certain clauses. A "bus" ("for all" in Latin) law is one that has several
disparate subjects or aspects of a single block.
The bill includes other reforms, such as the number of payments that debtors will take to
pay their taxes to the state and social security contributions.
This is the legislative record of the decisions taken by the troika at the beginning of
this month, against the payment of a new tranche of funding.
Athens now expects to receive 8.8 billion euros in mid-May. It is expected that payment,
long planned, a $ 2.8 billion of this amount will be approved by the Working Group of the
euro area on April 29. The second tranche of $ 6 billion, to be granted at the next
Eurogroup meeting of 13 May: The state does need very quickly these funds to pay civil
servants, pensioners and obligations whose 'next deadline is May 20
The most important point was the redundancies in the public service. Although the number
of public sector employees has declined steadily since the beginning of the crisis, this
is the first time that the government officials will eject directly.
The Administrative Reform Minister Antonis Manitakis explained to members that the
government would choose the 15,000 employees it has to lay off the end of 2014, including
4,000 in 2013.
He said that the dismissals did not affect the mobility plan that aims forced already
25,000 employees.
Manitakis Minister said that officials covered by the layoffs came from five areas. The
first consists of those who are convicted of offenses. According to the minister, some
1,500 employees are currently facing disciplinary proceedings.
Officials who work in organizations that are merged or dissolved also lose their jobs.
This will be done through an evaluation process that is currently underway and will lead
to select those that will be transferred.
The minister added that the public employees who have been forced or mutations that are
placed in the system of "labor reserve" have the opportunity to leave voluntarily retired.
Finally, Manitakis said that the conditions under which each employee was hired will be
checked and those hired fraudulently would be dismissed.
These 15,000 job cuts are just the beginning. Notice of the troika talks about the need to
eliminate 150,000 civil service jobs in the coming years. 25 000 people put in the
"reserve of employment" are included.
Second lower minimum wage for future employees
A last minute addition to the Minister of Finance of Stournaras establishes a new minimum
wage in case of recruitment in the public service of the unemployed who have benefited
from programs of the National Agency for Employment. The maximum amounts to 490 euros per
month, and only 427 euros for children under 25 years. These amounts are well below the
minimum wage in force, which itself had been lowered, and in fact abolish the principle.
This amendment allows the local authorities, especially municipalities, regions, hire - in
fixed-term contracts - workers for a lower minimum wage in the common minimum wage, which
had already been reduced from 22% in spring 2012 (and 32% for those under 25 years).
The new minimum wage of civil servants will be reduced to 490 euros, or 90 euro less than
the general minimum wage. The new minimum wage of less than 25 years, is set at 427 euros
per month, which represents a decrease of 70 euros compared to the minimum wage for young
Greeks.
For the record, the minimum wage for over 25 years is currently 586 euros for those under
25 years was reduced to 490 euros.
In responding to members who criticized these wage measures, the Finance Minister said,
"It is true that 490 euros is a low salary, but do not forget that in this case we are
talking about people who are unemployed. It will be a relief for them. "
Greek and international media were quick to welcome the decision to reduce the "bloated"
public service in Greece but have neglected some important points, firstly that this
"hypertrophy" of the Greek public service over to other European countries is at least
questionable, even according to OECD figures.
How to circumvent the Constitution
The permanence of employment for civil servants had been established in the country's
recent history to limit patronage and prevent a newly elected government can dismiss to
recruit supporters. This explains the fact that the departments and agencies that are used
to fire officials will be dissolved, because the Constitution does not lay off employees
en masse in cases other than those. Meanwhile, the same omnibus austerity also provides
that employees of regional and municipal services can now be recruited without the
supervision of the Council. Higher for Personnel Recruitment, an independent agency
established in 1996 to oversee the recruitment of officials and avoid recruitment by
political patronage.
In short, these provisions of the law of Sunday, April 28 can circumvent the Constitution
on the permanence in employment officials and pave the way for new hires on the basis of
patronage and hiring unemployed below the official minimum wage .
The two main Greek unions, GSEE and ADEDY, staged a small protest outside the parliament
during the vote. The opposition parties have raised objections to the constitutionality of
parliamentary procedure. The law was passed by 168 votes against and 123 abstentions.
2. Teachers work more, the contractors will be unemployed and strikes are prohibited
Wednesday, April 23, the Minister of Education announced that teachers will now free 2
hours extra per week, and 4 hours for teachers with more than 20 years old. 10,000
teachers hired this year CSD positions replacements will not be repeated in the next
school year.
Greek teachers angry called Friday, May 10 in a strike from May 17, the first day of the
exam season.
The call of the Federation of Public School Teachers in secondary education in Greece
(OLME, for its acronym in Greek) is due to the anger of the teachers because of job cuts
replacements (10,000 contractors), mutations 4000 teachers from one region to another and
the two-hour increase their working week from September, government decision in the last
package of measures adopted by the Parliament in April in exchange a new "help" rescue
international creditors. Teachers have already undergone in recent years, wage cuts of 20
to 30%.
Teachers who made the call to strike seeking to mobilize hundreds of thousands of students
and parents.
According to the Council of the Federation of Trade Unions voted this call vote of 11 to
9, there will be a 24-hour strike on May 17, followed by five days of strikes from 20 to
24 May If the decision is ratified by the local union meetings across the country on May
15, the strike will affect the conduct of entrance examinations to the university for the
first time in 25 years. In 1988, in fact, a teachers' strike took place during the
examination period.
The spokesman of the OLME told the press that all the unions supported the strike unless
the PAME (the "labor front" of the Communist Party).
The government immediately announced that the strike would not take place and that it uses
for a measure of "civil mobilization" (requisition), as was the case for truckers in 2010,
workers in local communities (collection garbage) in 2011, those of the Athens Metro and
those of maritime transport in 2013.
Immediate civil mobilization of teachers is a procedure under which civilians (such as
equipment, vehicles ...) are used (as in the military) to respond to threats "national" as
a war or a natural disaster. It is especially more and more to break strikes. Any person
receiving an order of "civil mobilization" must comply immediately, otherwise it could go
to jail and lose his job.
The order made by the Prime Minister to 86,000 teachers, includes references to a
potential "significant disruption of social and economic life of the country" and to
"grave danger to public order and health of candidates taking exams entrance to the
university. "
L'OLME union urged students and parents to take action against this ban on strike.
Monday, union officials ADEDY called a strike support 24 hours on 14 and announced he was
ready to do the same on May 17
L'OLME union calls for protest rallies this Monday, May 13th in the evening in many
cities. Unions and associations of parents called to join the rallies. A 24-hour strike
could be called on May 16, the day before the scheduled date.
3. Hunger strikes
The hunger strikes have increased in Greece in recent months to protest is against prison
conditions or treatment of immigrants and refugees, for two reasons at once.
We reported two new cases this week, one in Larissa and the other in Mytilene. A Larissa,
the inmates of the local prison protest against their conditions of detention. On the
island of Mytilene, 12 Afghans and four Syrians recently arrived in Greece started a
hunger strike to protest against the fact that they are in a legal limbo, with absurd and
tragic consequences. Police and Coast Guard refused to stop and save as detention centers
are insufficient. Therefore, refugees are stuck in the port of Mytilene unable to go
anywhere, and are forced to live, sleep, eat and wash and where they can. Their only
support comes from volunteers from the local community, providing them with food and basic
hygiene items. The absurdity of the situation is obvious when you think they are begging
the police to arrest, to obtain a deportation order allowing them to stay in Greece for a
month and allowing them to leave the island became an open prison to continue their
journey to the country of Northern Europe.
4. Golden Dawn
A 23 year old woman died this week after about a month in the hospital after being beaten
by her partner, which is known to be a member of the Golden Dawn. Beyond the tragedy of
these events, many activists are concerned about the tolerance of the authorities
vis-?-vis the Golden Dawn have noticed that while the attacker is on the run, justice and
police did not publish his picture and identity, while it is a common practice, if not
systematic, in the case of suspected left or anarchists.
The Golden Dawn has also been talk about it this week, seeking to organize food
distribution only for Greeks in Athens. The distribution was banned by the mayor of
Athens, Giorgos Kaminis who subsequently assaulted by the member of the Golden Dawn
GERMENIS. The mayor himself has however been criticized for the legal basis of his
decision: he said that the distribution of food in Syntagma Square was an "illegal
occupation of public space," while the Greek law against racism enough to prevent an event
"for the Greeks only" as discriminatory.
Finally, many Twitter users reported that on Good Friday, members of the Golden Dawn were
on the toll highway in the Peloponnese. Toll of Eleusis, they raised the barriers to allow
vehicles to pass without paying. It should be emphasized again that the police let them
conduct their operation and leave without disturbing them, while members of the movement
"Plirono Den" ("I do not pay"), who campaign against the exorbitant toll rates, find
themselves systematically confronted riot police.
5. Skouries against gold mine
The people of Halkidiki northeast showed again on May 1 against the gold mining projects
and copper in the forest Skouries. The event has been pushed back by riot police, who used
copious amounts of tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Meanwhile, the president of the Union of Police Chalkidiki, Ioannis Kyrgiafinis, denounced
the fact that the police in the region has been transformed into a private security
company for Hellas Gold mining company and its parent company Eldorado Gold. Kyrgiafinis
publicly denounced the level of spending at the expense of the state for a police
operation in which 80-90 are present constantly in the forest Skouries, and the daily
working hours of his colleagues, who are excessive, but the fact that the rest of
Halkidiki is left without police to handle everyday problems, which should also increase
with the start of the tourist season.
Sunday, May 12th in the morning, two events were held in the forest Skouries. One call to
the women on the occasion of Mother's Day and other "mixed", as they do every weekend to
realize progress, including cutting being done by trees loggers under police protection.
Three women were arrested by the police and continued to obstruct the movement of company
vehicles Hellas Gold. According to witnesses, a fourth woman has virtually stopped biting
a police officer and escaped. Another was seized violently and must wear a neck brace. The
demonstrators blocked and e were able to continue escaping into the forest.
In addition, a protester was hospitalized due to the injuries he received during clashes
with security forces.
According to police, during these clashes, shots were fired at police by an "unknown" and
that he appears with a shotgun. These shots have caused seven minor injuries in the ranks
of the police. Some TV channels, including Mega TV, owned by Bobolas the Greek shareholder
of Hellas Gold, say seven policemen were injured "dead", while no local hospital has
reported such injuries or buckshot.
The lawyer for the three women who were arrested Sunday morning said they are accused of
resistance against the authorities, sedition and attempt to release detained.
PRESS RELEASE
May 12, 2013
Today, Mother's Day in Greece, a large number of women marched peacefully in the
mountainous region of Kakavos, once again, to defend their land, their lives and their
children's future. They were surrounded by riot and beaten mercilessly police. Two mothers
of three children each, were injured. One woman is injured to the hospital while the
second is among the three detainees who were transferred to the police headquarters of
Chalkidiki.
The women gathered in the mountains were threatened by employees of Hellas Gold and police.
At the same time, a group of people who were gathered in another part of the mountain,
trying to reach the place where the forest is cleared, fell on the riot police who
attacked with tear gas.
We denounce the Greek police, who for a long time, with a large deployment of forces
prevents residents from approaching the public areas of the mountain Kakavos where Hellas
Gold perpetrates its operations. We denounce the Greek police protection services it
provides to the company and its support for its illegal activities. We condemn the brutal
police repression and violence that local people face every day.
We declare that we will continue our fight to protect our land and our lives.
We urge all citizens to maintain support and solidarity with our struggle for the
environment, for our lives and for the defense of our constitutional and human rights.
(SOS Halkidiki)
6. Unemployment new European record
The statistics for the month of February 2013 are falling. The rate of unemployment
reached 27% of the workforce (31% of women and 24% men) against 21.9% a year earlier and
26.7% in January 2013.
Almost two thirds of young people aged 15-24 not in school are affected (64.2%) against
54.1% in February 2012.
And in the 25 to 34 years, over a third (36.2% against 29% a year ago) are looking for a job.
In February, the number of unemployed in Greece amounted to 1.32 million while those with
jobs were 3.568 million.
7. Debt crisis, privatization ...
The Greek government has been optimistic about the improvement of the situation in 2014.
The mind boggles, especially when it provides him and the troika, an increase in the debt
/ GDP ratio to 175% by the end of 2013. No doubt they can because they believe it will
start this year privatization program of public enterprises, defined it more than two
years and has been delayed.
Among the first offered for sale, there is one that deals with games and sports paris: the
one who earns a lot of money! A few days ago, the Finance Minister had welcomed the
success of the "first major privatization", selling for ? 652 million of 33% of the public
shares profit organization of sports paris Opap the Greco-Czech consortium Emma Delta. A
sale of 33% of a company that in 2012 had reported 505 million net profit ... some evil
spirits noted that buyers had made an excellent deal.
A grain of sand in Thessaloniki
Among the further privatization of the water utility of the city of Thessaloniki (in fact,
74% is state property, 26% already held by private companies). But in the second city, the
resistance was organized for nearly two years.
The privatization of water services, including Greece and Portugal, is one of the
conditions imposed under the bailouts. This privatization is encouraged by the European
Commission and the President when Holland goes to Greece in February, is not only to sell
frigates to the Greek navy, but also to support the applications of French companies to
cover of "good bits" of state enterprises for sale.
A local group of inhabitants, the "Initiative 136", born in 2011 in the wake of the
"movement of squares", the "outraged" Greek, opposes privatization and proposes the
establishment of a social management the waters of the city through housing cooperatives,
non-profit neighborhood level goal. By collecting the "shares" of these cooperatives with
locals who can, it intends to buy what is on sale.
Initially, it was to privatize 40% of the capital of EYATH, almost public water company in
Thessaloniki. The "Initiative 136" is named after the result of the division of the
estimated EYATH (40% departure) by the number of meters installed in the city value. Each
theoretical "share" would be 136 euros. That's a lot in a country being accelerated
impoverishment, especially as the project is based on volunteerism, it logically would
include far fewer people than subscribers, even if it is planned to introduce "legal
persons" ...
Since December 2012, the objective of privatization was revalued to the sale of 51% of the
company, making it even harder to raise the money, not to mention legal barriers placed in
the tender, as Having experience in water management (distribution and disposal, treatment
/ sanitation) a large city with over 500,000 inhabitants, especially those technical
skills are in the foreground and are chronologically playoffs.
Among the potential buyers, there Suez Environnement (which already owns 5.46% of EYATH)
in association with the Greek group Ellaktor Baron public works and media Bobolas Georges
(yes, that of Hellas Gold) and other consortia of local businesses (Greek construction
group GEDK-Terna) and abroad including the Israeli water company Mekorot, and the
Greco-Russian businessman Ivan Savvidis who bought in 2012 local football club Paok.
In turn, 14 municipalities in the region also oppose the privatization plan, or to create
a public company to buy the 51%, or to endorse the "Initiative 136".
The Municipality of Thessaloniki, which is opposed to the proposed privatization, recently
voted the principle of a local referendum on the decision. The result is absolutely not
binding on the state, but it is part of the "resistance" to privatization and should be
understood as such.
A battle for water will therefore engage.
In any case, the value of this approach is that there is already a strength, and the
question of the collective and non-profit water in an effort to establish a control group
of residents and prevent water resources become a source of profit. That this approach is
successful or not, this "citizen cooperative" manages to escape the constraints of the
capitalist environment, these are recurring on all cooperative, self-management projects
and other issues, which can not but have doubts if one seeks there any "alternative to
capitalism." This is nothing more, and better, an alternative to the privatization of
course vital resource, which is not at all the same thing. And yet, find themselves having
to buy collectively the "we" part, which belongs to the community, it's still pretty
terrible as a way to resist and "out" of the debt crisis! Let ...
8. Deflation
The decline in consumer prices in Greece continued in April by 0.6% year on year,
according to figures released Friday by the Greek Statistical Authority Elstat.
This decrease was already observed in the previous month (-0.2%), which was a first for 45
years. If confirmed, this deflation would worsen the effects of the recession (the sixth
consecutive year in 2013), the level of debt would, even at constant nominal value
increase even faster in real terms.
XYZ, May 13, 2013
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