The First Instance Courts of Athens has vindicated the employees of the former public broadcasting service ERT and has ordered the Greek state to restore their positions and wages prior to their dismissal.
The court decision relates to seven former ERT employees, who had appealed against their dismissal. This is considered a significant development as many more employee groups will follow suit. The State is expected to appeal the decision.
According to the court decision, the transition of ERT to NERIT was not considered a valid reason for the dismissal of employees. Furthermore, the court argued that the State did not cite any financial or technical reasons for these dismissals “meaning that these are void, since they are contrary to the relevant legislation”.
SYRIZA MEP and professor of Public Law Giorgos Katrougalos commented that “the court decision does not only vindicate the struggle of the ERT employees, it also reopens the public radio and television issue” and opined that “the struggle for a free, independent, democratic, public television open to society will be vindicated”.
