The absolute fine Greek mess: the union of workers at trains and suburban train Proastiakos declared a strike without previous informing all workers and the public. And this on a day, where all other public transport means, metro, tram, buses, trolleys buses, are locked in depots and workers on strike.
Greek TRAINOSE announced on Monday afternoon that Trains and Proastiakos will operate as usual on Tuesday, the 24-hour general strike day.
Later things came upside down, though. The union decided to join the mobilizations against the pension and social security bill apparently without informing all workers and definitely without informing the public.
With Proastiakos being the only option to move within the Greek capital, commuters stood at the train stations as early as 6 o’ clock in the morning. The station was open but no train around.
In one case, commuters waited for more than 15 minutes, until they were informed that workers are on strike.
TRAINOSE announced the strike at 6:30 in the morning. the company spoke of “sudden and not previously announced strike by the staff.”
Transport Minister Costas Karamanlis said during an interview with Skai TV, that even workers did not know about the union’s decision and went to start the morning shift thus finding the trains depot locked.
Karamanlis threatened Proastiakos and Train unionists with disciplinary measures. He reiterated the anti-strike slogan of PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis who has been speaking of unionists as “organized minorities” disrupting the majorities.
“An organized minority disrupted public transport means, occupied a work place, we will proceed with all necessary measures.”
