The General Council of PDEDIN has declared a Strike - Abstention against the compulsory vaccination of health and welfare workers. Γreiterated its position in favour of vaccination and against compulsory vaccination. According to the figure quoted, its members have been vaccinated at a rate of 90%. Read the extrajudicial notification sent to the government:
BEFORE ANY COURT OR AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION
EXTERNAL DISCLOSURE
The Panhellenic Federation of Public Hospital Employees [PDEDIN], which is based in Athens, at 22 Aristotelous Street, as legally represented.
TO
1) The Greek State, as legally represented by the Minister of Finance,
2) The Ministry of Health,
3) The Ministry of Interior.
4) The Ministry of Labour
*****
Dear Ministers,
The General Council of PDEDN, reacting to the provisions introduced by articles 205 and 206 of Law No. 4820/2021 regulations, which relate to the obligation to show or present a certificate or certificate of vaccination against the coronavirus COVID-19 or disease by the staff of the Public Health and Welfare, which we represent and establish the imposition of sanctions against our colleagues, decided to declare a strike - abstention from mandatory vaccination, calling all member unions to mass participation.
The reasons for which the present strike - abstention is declared are that a) the obligation for employees to show or present to the employer a certificate or attestation of vaccination or illness violates the individual right to the protection of personal data and especially sensitive health data of employees, b) the imposition of the measure of compulsory vaccination, in addition to the violation of the self-determination of employees, entails the imposition of the suspension of the duties of employees who have not received the first or second vaccination, and c) the imposition of the obligation to provide the employer with a certificate or attestation of vaccination or illness. 1 of Article 206 of Law No. 4820/2021 and until 1 September 2021 for the personnel of par. 2 of the aforementioned article, a measure which has the character of a sanction by depriving them and their families of their means of subsistence, is contrary to the principle of proportionality and infringes constitutionally guaranteed rights such as the right to work and the free development of personality.
The demands of this strike - abstention are a) the abolition of the institutional framework, which established the obligation to show the employer a certificate or attestation of vaccination or illness of the employee and the compulsory vaccination of public health staff and b] the abolition of the ‘special administrative measure’ of suspension of workers who have not received the first or single dose of the COVID vaccine;19 by 16 August for those employed in the care units for the elderly and disabled in the public sector referred to in paragraph 1.1. 1 of Article 206 of Law No. 4820/2021 and until 1 September 2021 for those employed in the health care facilities of par. 2 of article 206 of Law No. 482020, until 20 September 2021, for persons working in the employment of persons employed under the provisions of Article 206 of Law No. 482020, as well as for persons employed under the provisions of Article 206 of Law No. 48202020. 4820/2021, the non-payment of salaries during the period of suspension and the non-recognition of the period of suspension as a period of actual public service.
In execution of the above decision, PDEDIN declares that after the expiration of two working days from the notification of the present, a strike is declared -absence of all employees in the field of Public Health and Welfare, we represent from any procedure of compulsory demonstration or presentation of a certificate or certificate of vaccination or infection and in general any procedure relating to the application of the provisions of articles 205 and 206 of Law No. 4820/2021, including the obligation of supervisors to request or collect or register certificates of sickness or vaccination of personnel under their authority.
It is noted that the aforementioned abstention of the officials, whom we represent, from the procedure of the mandatory presentation or presentation of a certificate or attestation of vaccination or disease, as described and specified in articles 205 and 206 of Law No. 4820/2021, as a means of safeguarding their labour interests, is provided for in the provisions of Law 1264/1982, as interpreted by the competent Courts (namely, D.Ef. 486/1995 etc.) and constitutes a perfectly legal form of trade union action, recognised as a form of strike.
DUE TO
We inform you that, from the expiration of two working days from the notification of the present notice, we declare a strike abstention from any procedure of compulsory display or presentation of a certificate or attestation of vaccination or contagion, including the obligation of supervisors to request or check or collect or register certificates of contagion or vaccination of the personnel under their responsibility and, in general, from any procedure concerning the application of the provisions of articles 205 and 206 of Law No. 4820/2021 of the staff of the Public Health and Welfare Services, thus providing full coverage to all public employees and private employees, both fixed-term and indefinite, employed in the Public Health Service, whom we represent.
I duly serve this document on the competent bailiff, for their knowledge and the legal consequences, copies.
Athens, 5 August 2021
FOR THE POPEDIN
THE PRESIDENT THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
MICHAEL YANNAKOS ORESTOS PANASTASIS
