Changes in the legal framework governing labor unions in the country, amid a joint declaration by “social partners”, tops the agenda of negotiations on Thursday between Greece’s labor ministry and representatives of institutional creditors.
According to information quoted by “N”, the labor ministry’s leadership is considering possible changes in a 1982 law stipulating special treatment for elected unionists, including time-off for union-related activities and legal protection against the firing of union officials.
In most European countries considered as having “best practices” on the issue of legal protection for unionists, the firing of a trade union official necessitates a “serious reason”, one which is judged in a relevant court. In Greece, under the 1982-era law, the legal protection framework is even more expansive.
Most high-ranking unionists, such as the board members of the labor umbrella federation (GSEE) and the civil servants’ union (ADEDY) are granted unpaid work leave for as long as their term in office lasts; shorter leave of absences are granted for lower ranking unionists. However, during this period, specific trade unions pay the social security contributions of their elected leaderships, along with a salary.
Besides the regime governing trade unionists’ role and activity, the leftist Greek government is faced with demands by creditors for a liberalization in the law preventing mass layoffs – unless the relevant labor minister signs off on such a prospect, an extremely rare occurrence – and mandating that a majority of workers approve industrial actions.
Currently, the majority of participants at a general assembly, usually by a show of hands, approve strikes and work stoppages.
