ITF threatens Greek Govt with legal action

ITF threatens Greek Govt with legal action over shock threat to national airline

Global union federation the ITF today threatened the Greek Government with legal and political action over its shock threat to close national airline Olympic Airways, with the possible loss of 8,000 jobs.

The ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) and its European arm the ETF (European Transport Workers’ Federation) have instructed the Greek Minister of Transport that his plan to close and then privatise the airline contravenes European Law. The Federation states that in violation of the European Directive on Consultation and Information (Directive 2002/14/EC) the Ministry has engaged in no consultation with the ITF-affiliated OSPA (Greek Federation of Civil Aviation Unions), which represents the entire workforce. The ITF/ETF and OSPA have also expressed their grave concern that the Government has also failed to secure any guarantees of job opportunities from possible successor companies.

The ITF and ETF told the Minister: “The ITF and the ETF will take whatever legal and political steps are necessary before the EU institutions to ensure that the Greek Government meets its legal obligations and will fully support action by OSPA in the Greek Courts to achieve the same objective.

“ITF and ETF Aviation Unions will stand ready to provide whatever solidarity is needed to protect the interests of OA workers.”

ENDS

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