Those workers who will participate in Thursday's general strike will not be paid for the hours they will be absent from work.
According to the General Secretary of the Greek Confederation of Greeks, Andreas Matsa, strike time is not paid unless there is an agreement with the employer. But under normal circumstances it is not paid. For example, if today someone goes on strike for three hours, three hours will be deducted from him and it applies to both the private and public sector.
Besides, in some professions there is a strike fund that supports workers who go on strike.
No rewards
According to a circular of the OEB, according to a fixed principle of labor law, jurisprudence and the labor relations system, the hours/days of absence from work due to a strike are without pay for the striking worker, stressing at the same time, that bullying is expressly prohibited and the harassment by anyone including the employer or his representative, trade unionist, striker or employee to compel any person to do or omit to do something which, the said person is entitled by law to do or omit, i.e. to be prevented either from working or to strike.
The KEBE also issued a circular to its members for their guidance regarding the work stoppage on January 26, in which it calls on them, among other things, not to make a unilateral agreement with the Trade Unions.
As mentioned, the goal of the KEBE is, through negotiations with the trade unions, to replace the institution of the A.T.A. with a more modern and economically viable mechanism, which is based on the increase in the productivity of the economy as determined by the increase in GDP. in real terms thus ensuring the competitiveness and viability of businesses and the economy.
As mentioned, in order to give time for a dialogue, the KEBE accepted, for those companies or organizations that grant A.T.A., the continuation of the payment of 50% of the Consumer Price Index based on which the total A.T.A. percentage from 1/1/2023 it increases from 2.56% to 7.03% of the basic salary.
"Until the resumption and completion of the dialogue with a new agreement to regulate the institution between the Social Partners, the KEBE calls on all its members not to make a unilateral agreement with the Trade Unions", it states.
It is also pointed out that despite the appeals of the KEBE to avoid strikes and to continue the dialogue, the unions announced a three-hour strike on Thursday 26/1/2023 between the hours of 12.00:3.00 p.m. – XNUMX p.m.
In the circular it is stated that in the Constitution, the right of workers to freely organize and participate in collective abstinence from their work is guaranteed. Therefore, the workers who will participate in the strike should not have any negative consequences in their employment.
Also, the employer does not pay any remuneration to the employees for the hours they strike in accordance with the labor law and the relevant jurisprudence.
It is also noted that the right of workers who do not wish to participate in the strike is guaranteed by the Constitution. Therefore, these workers must have all the facilities to work. "Employees have both the right to strike and the right to work," it added.
Based on the Law on Trade Unions, it is added, during the strike the strikers carry out a peaceful protest at the place where the labor dispute takes place.
Also prohibited is the use of force, intimidation by anyone to force any person to either work or participate in the strike.
It is also noted that in the event that businesses or organizations fall into the "Specified Essential Services" category, consultation should be made with the Trade Unions for the establishment and operation of a "minimum service limit", which is necessary both to address the basic needs of the population and to preventing irreparable damage
It is further stated that "essential services" means services the interruption of which would endanger the life, personal safety or health of the whole or part of the population. It includes the activities necessary to ensure a continuous supply of electricity, to ensure water supply for water supply purposes, to ensure the operation of telecommunications, the safe operation of aviation and air traffic control, the operation of hospitals, the operation of prisons. the repair or maintenance of the equipment and electro-mechanical installations of the Electric Power, the Police & Fire Brigade and the operational safety of port traffic.
It is also noted that those workers who will participate in the strike will not be paid for the hours they will be absent from work.