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Victoria Mindova

Tension over the Greek government is increasing regarding the protests of the port employees. The dockers are protesting against the concession of one of the platforms in Pieria to the Chinese company Cosco for 35 years. The union of dockers was in session yesterday, in order to decide whether the 48 hours strike should continue, which ran out at midnight last night. China is increasing the pressure over the Greek government with the arrival on November 15 in Athens of Cosco’s executive director.

Minister of Economy, Development and Shipping Luka Katzeli said that “there is a lack of a legal basis” for the most recent strikes. According to experts if the port employees continue the strikes, legal measures can be taken in order to restore the normal work process.

In an open letter to Luka Katzeli the Athens Chamber director of Greek traders and industrialists Kostadinos Mihalos called for immediate meeting, on which present should be traders, port employees and state representatives. “After the announcement of the 48 hour strike, such meeting is necessary, because the strike will challenge Greek trade and economy in a period of crisis,” said Mihalos and added: “We believe there is still time for a discussion, which will bring positive results for our trade.”

According to the port employees union the contract clauses, regarding workforce, payment, social security and tax reliefs are part of the weak points of the concession. The workers want the government to freeze the current contract and both countries to return to the negotiations stage. Is privatizing the port is necessary, new conditions and new concession should be made, which will protect the long term interests of the employees and which will be profitable for the state. One of the most worrying conditions in the agreement with the Chinese company is that the previous government had agreed upon only eight months of guarantees for keeping the current employees and there is no collateral after the end of this period—in other words the employees are not sure whether after eight months they will still have their jobs.

A family working at the port of Pieria revealed their fears from the concession of the Chinese giant. The man has been working as an accountant at the port for 25 years and the woman – in the administration for 22 years. They have two children – one boy, first year student in Pieria University and a girl, who is in high school. If the Greek government does not undertake any measures and does not offer a new agreement to Cosco, there is a real possibility that this summer the four member family will be without income. “We have nothing to lose. We will continue the strike until we are heard. Maybe the government will take the initiative and will change the situation if we defend our position.”