6.2.13
Despite the mobilization orders issued by the government and enforced by the police, the President of the nationwide union of commercial shipping sailors Antoni Dalakogiorgos, maritime workers will continue action with a march to the Ministry of Shipping on Wednesday and participating in the 24-hour strike organized by GSEE for the 20th of February.
The Minister of Shipping K. Mousouroulis claimed that there are no details available yet, regarding the time frame for reimbursing workers with overdue wges, as the shipping firms’ finances have not yet been clarified. The Minister insisted that he is pressuring the shipping firms and is open to a new series of talks with maritime workers.
On Tuesday, the strikers congregated at the pier near St. Dionysius by the port of Piraeus around 6pm. At an earlier committee meeting aboard the “Blue Star 1” it was decided that they would not collect their mobilization papers and continue with their strike.
At around 4am on Wednesday, police and coastal police forces surrounded the strikers on per E3, to allow the ships there to depart. Despite some altercations and resistance from the strikers, the ships departed. At 6am, when the mobilization was to come in effect, PNO decided to call off the strike for all peripheral ports outside Attica.
Despite delays, operations in Piraeus are returning to normal. Changes will be made to routes and timetables to accommodate the problems caused from the strike, so passengers are advised to contact their agent before heading to the port.
