Galery

1

Victoria Mindova

"The attacks against GENOP-DEI - the trade union of the employees in the Public Power Corporation is purposeful and biased in order to weaken its influence on society," said its president Nikos Fotopoulos at a special press conference. He called reporters to present his view on the story, which had stirred the spirits earlier in the week, namely that the organization was spending public money on fictitious events. In his opinion, a series of publications in this regard were made after the European Commission had sent a letter to the Greek authorities to inquire when four of the production units of lignite will be offered for privatization. The mines are profitable and are located in Megaloupouli, Melina and two in Aminoteo.

"The European Commission letter was received on 3 April this year and it signals that the selling-off of the four lignite mines of DEI (the Greek electricity company) should begin. By a strange coincidence, the first publication about the outrageous spending of our union was made on the same date," said Fotopoulos. He stated that the accusations of the chief supervisor of the state administration Leondros Rakindzis are unjustified and aimed to influence the public opinion against the actions of the union. "The state knows that we are the only ones who can thwart its plans to sell profitable production units for pennies. We will not allow that to happen. Let them bring in hundreds of riot forces. They will hav to send us to prison before they can begin to privatize." The last words expressed a revolutionary pathos, which is typical of the style of the trade unionist.

The privatization of part of the electric company is part of the liberalizing process of the energy market, which in Greece is a state monopoly. A study on the opportunities for economic development shows that properly released from the trap of monopoly, the energy company could be a driving force in GDP growth and the creation of new jobs. However, trade unions are adamant that no part of DEI must fall into the hands of private owners. To support the active strike actions in the future, Nikos Fotopoulos said he has requested a transfer from the distribution department to the production department of the utility company. "I say even now that the first day that the government officially announces the opening of tender for the sale of lignite mines, it will find the employees in full readiness," said Fotopoulos.

The head of the trade union organization had to explain the findings made by Rakindzis, which he defined as slander. He supported his claims with the results of the report of the economic police (SDOE). It states that the inspection did not reveal false or unjustified invoices for costs, but there were suspected violations by the travel agents who organized the trips of the trade unions. That is subject to a further revision, but it does not directly affect the union body. Fotopoulos specified that the events organized by the trade unions were legally funded. Since 1983, a law has been in force that allows the companies to subsidize the trade union of their employees. Moreover, within the negotiations for re-signing the collective agreements, the employees granted certain percentage of salary increases in favour of the trade union. "Let them check our personal accounts. We are not afraid."

Despite the bold statements, Fotopoulos did not deny that there had been irregularities in the management of union resources in the past. "We have learned a lesson and mistakes from the past will not be repeated," said the chairman. There are no guarantees yet whether this promise will be met. What is certain is that the trade unionists of the electric company will not easily allow the liberalization of the energy market in Greece.