The GUE/NGL group condemns the outrageous police violence used against cleaners and janitors of the Greek Ministry of Finance demonstrating in Athens today.
 
Riot police violently attacked and beat peaceful demonstrators with at least two people understood to have already been hospitalised. The women have been camped out and demonstrating daily at the Ministry to defend their jobs since last September when mass layoffs and attempts to privatise their jobs were announced.
 
While on 15 May a Court ordered the Ministry to rehire the women until 23 September (when the case will be finally judged), today, following an appeal from the Ministry, the Supreme Court regrettably said they don't have to be rehired for this period.
 
The GUE/NGL reiterates its full solidarity with this movement which began amid the catastrophic austerity policies being imposed in Greece.
 
GUE/NGL Press:
David Lundy +32 470 85 05 09
Emily Macintosh +32 470 85 05 08
Gay Kavanagh +32 473 84 23 20