GREECE: Striking hotel workers fear further slashes in their income and say they can barely survive on current 'starvation wages'

Record ID: 340799

  • Title: GREECE: Striking hotel workers fear further slashes in their income and say they can barely survive on current 'starvation wages'
  • Date: 27th May 2012
  • Summary: WORKER WITH HIS SON ON HIS SHOULDERS
  • Embargoed: 11th June 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Greece
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: Economy,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVABRCO68RKU8E7CX8DML6F336N1
  • Story Text: Hotel workers staged a 24-hour strike on Saturday (May 26) to protest against labour reforms ahead of new elections whose central theme continues to be deeper austerity.
    The protesters massed on the busy tourist thoroughfare that leads up to the Acropolis archaeological site leaving behind tourists who had to make up their own beds, get their own breakfast and would have to struggle past thousands of demonstrators to reach the city's main attraction.
    Workers oppose the recent passing of legislation that changes collective wage agreements allowing for the reduction of the minimum wage by employers, as well as wage cuts and job reductions in their sector that have taken place since 2010. The reduction of the minimum wage was introduced by the government in order to make the economy more competitive. Unions said it puts workers at the mercy of employers.
    "We demand that no wage be reduced, that no worker sign any wage agreement, and that we do not lose any of our rights. We demand viable collective wage agreements for everyone in Athens and all of Greece, not just for hotel workers," said unionist for hotel workers Nikos Papageorgiou.
    "My wage until now has been reduced by 32 percent. Slowly it will reach 40 percent. I earn 400 euros. I can't live on 400 euros, I am already paying rent of 380 euros. Even if I paid less rent I still wouldn't be able to makemeet. These are starvation wages," said hotel maid Christina Pontikaki.
    Greece goes to a repeat poll on June 17 which has pitched parties against each other over the economic reforms that have been introduced since 2010 that have cut wages, jobs, pensions, benefits and increased taxes.
    The reforms were introduced to reduce the country's ailing debt and needed in order for Greece to be given aid by the European Union and IMF, but have also caused recession and high unemployment.
    A first poll on May 6 did not produce a clear winner and parties disagreeing over austerity could not form a coalition. The political instability has mounted concerns over whether Greece would have a future in the eurozone if it could not continue to implement the economic reforms. A majority of the public wants to stay in the eurozone but disagrees with the austerity measures which have increased unemployment, reduced standards of living, and deepened the recession, causing thousands of businesses to close.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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