GUE/NGL President Gabi Zimmer today sent a message of solidarity to the cleaners and janitors of the Greek Ministry of Finance, who are protesting mass layoffs, disrespect for a court decision last week that ordered they be rehired, and attempts to privatise their jobs.

 

“Our wholehearted solidarity goes to the 595 cleaning workers who have been protesting at the Finance Ministry's headquarters in Athens. We fully support their call for respect for last week's court decision that requires the reinstating of their jobs, and we unreservedly join their opposition to attempts to privatise public cleaning services,” Zimmer said.

 

The women have been demonstrating daily at the Ministry to defend their jobs since last September when the layoffs were first announced. On May 15th last week, a Greek court deemed as illegal and against the public interest the layoffs and has ordered the Ministry to rehire the women.

 

“This campaign comes in the context of the catastrophic austerity policies being imposed in Greece. The struggle of these women is an inspiration and an example for all of us on the Left looking for another way for Greece and Europe,” Zimmer concluded.

 

GUE/NGL Press:

David Lundy +32 470 85 05 09

Gay Kavanagh +32 473 84 23 20

Emily Macintosh +32 470 85 05 08