DIADEYAK employees protesting against water privatisation
DIADEYAK
09 Mar 2023
/ 14:15
CORFU. Employees are demanding the immediate withdrawal of the Ministry of Energy΄s legislation as they say it is opening the way for water privatisation.
DIADEYAK employees are taking part in the the nationwide protest by the Panhellenic Federation of DEYA (Municipal Water Supply & Sewerage Companies) Workers.
A four-hour work stoppage began at 11:00 and at 12:00 workers held a protest gathering outside the inter-municipal water supply office in Pallada.
Amongst those present were Corfu SYRIZA and PASOK KINAL MPs Allexandros Avlonitis and Dimitris Biangis, KKE Municipal Councillor and MP candidate Mirsini Haralambous and others.
Employees are demanding the immediate withdrawal of the Ministry of Energy's legislation as they say it is opening the way for water privatisation.
According to the Federation's statement, they are demanding the immediate withdrawal of the legislation for the following reasons:
Water supply and sewerage services in Greece CANNOT be privatised and is not permitted according to the Constitution. There is no need for the creation of an independent regulatory authority for water as there is not a competitive situation - in other words, there is not a free market which needs to be supervised, monitored and regulated in order to insure that competitive regulations are being adhered to.
Contrary to the decisions of the Council of State, the government is attempting in any way it can, either indirectly or directly, to privatise water supply and sewerage services, showing complete disregard for public benefit.
After a delay of 20 years it is bringing back failed privatisation methods which were implemented in EU countries.
For what reason? Who benefits from these failed models when it is known how they end up? Big price increases in water bills, hitting the consumer and doubtful quality of water and services. All these other countries have now returned water management to either the state or municipalities.
A four-hour work stoppage began at 11:00 and at 12:00 workers held a protest gathering outside the inter-municipal water supply office in Pallada.
Amongst those present were Corfu SYRIZA and PASOK KINAL MPs Allexandros Avlonitis and Dimitris Biangis, KKE Municipal Councillor and MP candidate Mirsini Haralambous and others.
Employees are demanding the immediate withdrawal of the Ministry of Energy's legislation as they say it is opening the way for water privatisation.
According to the Federation's statement, they are demanding the immediate withdrawal of the legislation for the following reasons:
Water supply and sewerage services in Greece CANNOT be privatised and is not permitted according to the Constitution. There is no need for the creation of an independent regulatory authority for water as there is not a competitive situation - in other words, there is not a free market which needs to be supervised, monitored and regulated in order to insure that competitive regulations are being adhered to.
Contrary to the decisions of the Council of State, the government is attempting in any way it can, either indirectly or directly, to privatise water supply and sewerage services, showing complete disregard for public benefit.
After a delay of 20 years it is bringing back failed privatisation methods which were implemented in EU countries.
For what reason? Who benefits from these failed models when it is known how they end up? Big price increases in water bills, hitting the consumer and doubtful quality of water and services. All these other countries have now returned water management to either the state or municipalities.
