Tomorrow's 24-hour strike was ruled illegal strike of teachers' dismissals announced by the IEA by a judicial decision following an appeal by the Ministry of Education.
As it became known, the Athens Court of First Instance ruled the strike of teachers and kindergarten teachers for Wednesday, October 23, illegal and abusive, while for each violation of the decision there is a threat of a fine of 3,000 euros.
In statements to Dnews the president of the ILO, Spyros Marinis, said that «The teachers» and kindergarten teachers' strike will take place as scheduled tomorrow, Wednesday 23 October as announced" with the Teachers' Federation insisting on the strike notice.
Teachers say «Tomorrow's strike will go ahead as normal»
It is recalled that earlier the IOE had earlier announced in a statement that whatever the court's decision, the Teachers« Federation does not intend to back down and the strike rallies will take place normally throughout the country. As reported "In advance we inform in all directions: the strike, together with the more than 50 strike rallies across the country on 23 October 2024, will take place as planned! There is already a request for a re-announcement from ADEDY. We call on all colleagues to participate in tomorrow's strike and strike meetings to give a thunderous message to the government that the sector is determined not to give up an inch of its won rights. The attempt to silence the voice of the teachers, the teachers of the people WILL NOT PASS!»
Teachers' strike on 23 October - What will happen to classes and all-day classes
It is up to the discretion of teachers and kindergarten teachers to decide whether to participate in tomorrow's strike declared by the ILO and whether to inform the parents of the students in their class in advance of what they will do. It is customary for teachers to notify parents of their intention to strike so that arrangements can be made as to who will keep the children at home however it is purely at the teacher's discretion and is not compulsory. It is also worthwhile for parents to bear in mind that the child's class may have normal lessons as long as the teacher is not on strike but the teacher in charge of the full day may be on strike. In this case, it is advisable to ask the person in charge of the full day at the kindergarten and primary school what they intend to do on the day of the strike.
Which other sectors are on strike tomorrow, Wednesday 23 October
Tomorrow the ships will remain tied up at the ports because the Panhellenic Seamen's Federation is striking for the second day in a row, with the central demand for the reinstatement of collective agreements, here. Tomorrow kindergartens and primary schools will remain closed because teachers are on strike (they have an introductory salary of 776 euros....) here. Thursday-Friday school cleaning workers are on strike, here.
On the political front, the government spokesman denied the scenarios of early elections and changes to the electoral law. Otherwise:
Dismissals without compensation
With the main objective of signing collective labour agreements for 2025 in shipping with increases of 12% (compared to the 3% proposed by the Association of Passenger Shipping Enterprises - SEEN), the Panhellenic Seamen's Federation (PNO) is on strike today and tomorrow, with the Executive Committee warning of an escalation of the strike mobilization.
The seafarers also demand a) the abolition of Law 41/50 (under which at the end of October the 50% of the hotel crew is dismissed without compensation), b) the immediate amendment of the article on the four-monthly routing of passenger ships, ferries and speedboats with the imposition of a seven-month mandatory routing and c) the non-approval of routes by the Council of Ministers and the Minister without the strict observance of the seafarers' legislation. The Notice,
Strike also for school cleaners
The 48-hour nationwide strike of school cleaners, covered by the secondary Federation of Associations of Service and Trade Workers (OSEYPE) is taking place with basic demands:
-The recognition of the permanent and continuous nature of the cleaning needs of schools and the conversion of private fixed-term employment contracts into full-time employment contracts of indefinite duration.
-The state budget funded recruitment of IDOXs to be full-time, so that some municipalities do not use part-time contracts of 3-4 hours per day with salaries of 300-350 € per month. Immediately, municipalities should advertise a minimum of 70% of school cleaning jobs with full-time contracts.
-Give priority in full-time recruitment for the current teaching year 2025-2026 to all those who have a higher ranking based on years of experience and even in the next CBA the ranking should be the only criterion, not only for classification, but also for selection.
-Explicitly provide for the obligation to recruit for a full ten (10) months of employment with the contract starting on September 1 and ending on June 30.
-The Personal Protection Means or the corresponding vouchers to be granted in time and the municipalities to be obliged to deliver them upon recruitment.
-To establish a single Recruitment Code in Ergani for the staff of the school cleaning service and to have homogeneity in payroll payments in order to prevent the phenomenon of employees of the same category receiving different amounts of net pay.
-Signing of the CBA between the Ministry of Interior and the Federation (OSEYPE), ensuring the timely payment of salaries and the granting of travel expenses in municipalities with kilometric dispersion of school units.
-Recognition of professional skills and products for cleaning and disinfection of premises as, as they point out, in many schools, school committees are purchasing cleaning products of dubious quality, which are blamed by workers for the dramatic increase in the number of cancer patients.
-The Ministry of Interior to exclude any possibility of contractors of any kind entering the cleaning of school units.
Finally, tomorrow the health workers and hotel workers go on strike.
Constantina Duntumi
