GREECE: Contract workers block entrance to Athens National Archaeological Museum in another protest over job cuts and wages

Record ID: 339821

  • Title: GREECE: Contract workers block entrance to Athens National Archaeological Museum in another protest over job cuts and wages
  • Date: 20th October 2010
  • Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (OCTOBER 19, 2010) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF NATIONAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM STRIKING WORKERS SITTING ON MUSEUM STEPS, STANDING AT ENTRANCE, BANNER ACROSS ENTRANCE PROTESTERS ON STEPS OF THE MUSEUM VIEW OF ENTRANCE STATUES ON MUSEUM VARIOUS OF BANNER BLOCKING ENTRANCE READING: "WE HAVE WORKED FOR THE LAST 24 MONTHS AND THE ANSWER IS UNEMPLOYMENT" PROTESTER
  • Embargoed: 4th November 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Greece
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAEDRIWY758LAK8GCET9PJOQXOG
  • Story Text: Contract workers blocked the front doors of the Athens National Archaeological Museum on Tuesday (October 19), hindering tourists minutes after it opened.
    Protesting workers unfurled a large banner across the entrance columns reading: "We have worked for the last 24 months and the answer is unemployment."
    The groups are the same workers that clashed with police last week during a two-day blockade of the Acropolis which angered tourists. Police removed the strikers by force, using batons and tear gas to disperse about 150 people who barred visitors from entering the ancient marble temple.
    Contract workers, who have been on strike since last week, have vowed to continue with their action. They are temporary employees that work at archaeological sites and museums across the city, and are facing job losses as their contracts are not to be renewed.
    The workers say some of them have not been paid for several months and others for more than a year. The workers want their contracts - which are set to expire - renewed or be given permanent job status. Temporary workers tend to work with rolling short term contracts that are regularly renewed.
    In an effort to reduce the country's huge debt Greece has introduced reforms which include wage and pension cuts and hiring freezes, while workers contracts are not being renewed.
    The Greek government is determined to cut massive waste in the public sector and an over abundance of civil servants in an effort to reduce the deficit. Despite the protests the government has not backed down on its reforms. The government has said that the wage issue of the contract workers was being resolved and their protests harmed the image of the country.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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