Elefsina shipyard workers against Mitsotakis for devaluing the shipyards

Employees of the Eleusis Shipyards In a letter to the prime minister, they protest the «derogatory statements —the government’s positions, as well as your own remarks in Parliament regarding the awarding of the frigate contract and their construction in France, thereby excluding Hellenic Shipyards from the program.».

They express their outrage «at the defamation and mockery directed not only at the country’s two major shipyards—Elefsina and Skaramagas—but even more so at all of us workers.».

The entire letter

«Mr. Prime Minister,

In light of the government’s disparaging statements and positions—as well as your own remarks in Parliament—regarding the decision to award the contract for the construction of the frigates to France, thereby excluding Greek shipyards from the program, we express our disappointment—but more than that, our outrage—at the defamation and mockery directed not only at the country’s two major shipyards in Elefsina —Skaramanga—but even more so for all of us workers.

The entire government, which all this time has been publicly proclaiming in all media outlets its grand goal—the revival of the shipbuilding industry—and how much support the shipyards need,and to be involved in this major defense procurement program through contracts or co-production in the Navy’s programs—is now coming around and undermining its own claims through its actions and statements.

Honestly, Mr. Mitsotakis and Mr. Georgiadis, what investments are you talking about—and what do you expect—for our shipyards, and specifically for Elefsina?;
With these statements—and especially when made from the floor of Parliament—do you expect to see a flood of potential investors?;

Buy what?? And how??;

Mr. Mitsotakis, the shipyards have a highly experienced and fully trained workforce, as evidenced by the fact that All the ships built in Elefsina are on the front lines in the Aegean Sea and wherever our country needs them.

You have the best ships at your disposal, with starvation wages, while we’re saddled with years of unpaid wages., nevertheless, thanks to the pride we all share, because above all else, our patriotic spirit runs very deep, We worked very hard so that you could take pride in it and reap the praise, while we were met with contempt.

It is not us, the workers, who are to blame, but you—all the governments and the employers of each era—for the situation at the shipyards, and all of this has happened with your tolerance and your cover-ups.

So, a little respect, please, Mr. Mitsotakis… and for your information, here is a list of projects we completed in Eleusis, for which everyone praised us for the quality of our work:

1) Construction of 4 tank transporters
2) 1 oil tanker for the Hellenic Navy (under construction)
3) 2 Coast Guard vessels
4) 2 Drills (repair)
5) Construction: NISOS – CHIOS
6) Construction of 2 ferries
7) Construction of 7 TPKs
8) Construction of an oil drilling rig in Prinos, Kavala
9) Construction of the Agia Mavra Floating Bridge in Lefkada
10) OSE rolling stock
11) PPC Depositors

And many other ships and structures…

That said, Mr. Mitsotakis, we’ve been waiting for you at the Thessaloniki International Trade Fair since 2019—as you had promised to provide a solution for the Elefsina Shipyards—and here we are in 2021, and we’re still waiting!!!

Enough already with the mockery—both from you and from the Minister of Development and Investment, Mr. Georgiadis, who has turned into the Minister of Investment Downgrading with all his erratic actions and statements.

In particular, the head of Investment Development—Investment Downgrading has played a major role in our ordeal over the past three years; in ourour private meetings throughout this entire period, he has been stringing us along with deadlines and constantly telling us that starting tomorrow—and every “tomorrow” after that—our ordeal will be over… and those “tomorrows” have now stretched into three whole years!!!
It would be best, Mr. Prime Minister, if you PERSONALLY took the initiative to resolve the issue of the Elefsina Shipyards, rather than the minister in question, because his entire attitude has caused great frustration and uncertainty among all the workers.
Finally, we, too, welcome the announcement made by our colleagues at the Skaramanga Greek Shipyards and the TRIAINA Union.