Greek Civil Servants Walk Out Over Ban on Teachers’ Strike

It was the third time this year that Greece’s fragile governing coalition had invoked the emergency measure, the civil mobilization law, to combat trade unions that oppose the austerity measures demanded by the country’s international creditors in exchange for continued rescue financing.

As with Athens subway workers and seamen, who were forced back to work earlier this year, secondary school teachers face arrest and dismissal if they go ahead with a 24-hour strike planned for Friday, the first day of university entrance examinations for high school students. The teachers object to the government’s plans to increase their working hours, fearing the move will lead to staff cutbacks.

But instead of thriving in the face of what political opposition parties have denounced as “blackmail” and “authoritarian tactics” by the government, unions appear increasingly split and weakened.

Tuesday’s strike by the civil servants union, Adedy, which disrupted tax offices and other public services, was not backed by protesting teachers, who were angered by Adedy’s refusal to support their planned walkout on Friday.

Echoing the government’s objections, Adedy said it was reluctant to support a job action that would create havoc for more than 100,000 pupils trying to secure a university or college position amid spiraling youth unemployment, which has topped 64 percent.

The rift bubbled to the surface at a rally by civil servants in Athens on Tuesday, which drew no more than 300 people, when a senior Adedy unionist was harangued by teachers crying, “Traitors!”

Addressing a business conference on Monday night, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said his government would continue to “protect the public good over sector-specific interests.”

If the authorities make good on this pledge, they may win support from an austerity-weary public that is keen to see the privileges of the few revoked, some say.

“The teachers don’t have the support of the people,” said Takis Michas, a political analyst. “Complaining about extra working hours when you have three months a year paid vacation and when unemployment is skyrocketing is not going to strike a chord with the average Greek.”

Last week, the finance minister, Yannis Stournaras, said authorities had liberalized hundreds of professions that formerly restricted access, including notaries and taxi drivers, and would open dozens more in coming months, including the powerful legal sector.

Article source: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/15/world/europe/greek-civil-servants-walk-out-over-ban-on-teachers-strike.html?partner=rss&emc=rss