Party with Public Money – Electricity Union theatens to ‘turn off’ Greece tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,

Party with Public Money – Electricity Union theatens to ‘turn off’ Greece

Posted by keeptalkinggreece in Economy, Society

Things are getting very tough among the state and the labor union of Electricity Power Company (GENOP-DEH). As the government plans to privatize and sell stakes from DEH, the labor union has decided to start 48h strikes as from May 6, 2011. The strikes are expected to last a week and thus until May 15 when the privatization draft bill will go to the Parliament for vote. At the same time the findings of Public Administration general inspector Leonidas Rakintzis about the funding of the labor union by the Electricity company have shocked Greeks and triggereda fierce war. After a thorough investigation Rakintzis found the the labor union GENOP/DEH has been funded with – are you sitting? – 31,2 million euros for the time period 1999-2010.

Big Party with Public Money

The findings report will be submitted to the Public Prosecutor as well, as there are some ‘legal issues’ to be cleared. As to how legal can be when the employer funds the trade union of its employees and as to why there was never any control on the spending.

The money given by the Public Electricity company to the trade union were spent among other

 for parking fees and gasoline expenses for vehicles belonging to the unionists’ ..children

for excursions or persons hosting

for printing of magazines that were never delivered to subscribers

for research or studies that were never concluded

for buying flowers, perfumes or alcoholic drinks

for purchase of personal computers without citing the reason of the purchase and so on and so forth…

Rakintzis declared also as illegal the loan of half a million euros that was given by the employer to the trade union.

The Importance of Being a Trade Unionist

Odd enough a local news portal from Kozani in Northern Greece published documents that four local GENO-DEH unionists received additional 365.542 euros from end of 2008 till end of 2010 in order to attend as union representatives board meeting of the social security. Just one of them got € 139.900 for 26 months. This ‘income’ was additional to monthly income, allowances and overtime payments.

If I were a trade unionist with such an income and bonuses I would oppose any privatization or any plans to cut my privileges. But the GENOP-boys seem to believe that only a part of the population should get poorer due to austerity. Probably that’s the reason, why they will go on strike. To turn off the lights in Greece and enjoy their party with public money in the darkness.

Moreover it’s really a pity that mismanagement of public assets in the debt-hit country sheds a bad reputation on labor unions and cracks down a common struggle for more rights.

Source: TO VIMA , Kathimerini