Strike rally and march in Corfu against labour bill
CORFU. The organisers considered the number of participants satisfactory, taking into account the fact that it was only announced on Tuesday 19 September.
Corfu workers and pensioners demanded the withdrawal of the new labour bill proposed by the government, participating on Thursday morning in the nationwide 24-hour strike called by the Confederation of Greek Workers (ADEDY) and Corfu Workers Centre (EKK).
The strike rally at the Workers Centre was supported by the Corfu SEPE and ELME teachers' unions, the Central Corfu Parents' and Guardians' Association, the Association of Builders, the Corfu Association of Private Employees, the Laiki Syspirosi and Leftist Collaborative Action in the Ionian Islands parties, as well as the pensioners' unions.
The organisers considered the number of participants satisfactory, taking into account the fact that it was only announced on Tuesday 19 September.
Teachers and parents first gathered at the General High Schools and then marched to the Workers Centre, where they joined forces with the rest of the demonstrators.
The President of Corfu Primary Teachers Union Antonis Koursaris, the majority councillor of Corfu Confederation of Greek Workers' majority party Vaggelis Christodoulou and the Workers Centre's representative Spyros Kantarelis gave greetings.
Opposition
The demonstrators expressed their complete opposition to the regulations provided for in the bill, which introduces a trial work period, work for successive employers, 13-hour workdays, "zero-hour contracts", as well as the criminalisation of strikes.
The strike rally was followed by a march on the main streets of the town and for this reason traffic regulations were in force. The peaceful protest ended at the former Prefecture with slogans against the labour bill, while also raising the serious issue of school buses, which still has not been solved, as no routes have been made since the start of the school year.
No particular problems
The teachers' strike did not cause any particular problems in the schools' operation. According to ELME, there was 15% attendance from secondary school teachers, while according to Corfu Primary Education Department data, 10.83% of primary school and kindergarten teachers went on strike.
However, this percentage is not the final one, as due to internet connectivity issues, kindergartens could not send their data. However, Corfu SEPE and ELME representatives appeared satisfied with the participation of teachers, taking into account when the strike was announced.
MARIA BAZDRIYIANNI
