Local government union federation POE-OTA has announced a 24-hour strike in light of the induction of municipal employees in the mobility/suspension scheme. The federation’s executive committee will convent later in the evening, to re-evaluate any developments.
The federation has called for an 11am demonstration at Karaiskaki square, followed by a march to Parliament. Only welfare services employees are exempt. Municipal police officers will also participate in the demonstration.
According to the government’s plan, 2,200 school wardens will be dismissed by the end of July, while about 3,500 municipal police officers will be suspended. The Municipal Police services will be abolished, with about 5% to 10% of municipal police officers being absorbed in other municipal services, while the majority will be transferred to the Ministry of Public Order.
The president of POE-OTA Balasopoulos claimed that “local government will be the main reserve for suspension and dismissals” and along with the president of the union of Municipality of Athens employees Polymeropoulos, accused Mayor Kaminis of not reacting to the problem.
The Ministers of Administrative Reform Mitsotakis and the Interior Mihelakis met with the leaders of the Central Municipality Union on Tuesday morning, in order to find a solution, under pressure from the troika agreement.
The mayors are skeptical of the scheme, which will see all municipal police officers and school wardens inducted in the mobility/suspension scheme. It is still uncertain what will happen with the responsibilities of the municipal police. The case of school wardens is also complicated, since they were mostly recruited outside the Personnel Selection Council’s (ASEP) procedures.
