NEWS

Coalition split over plans to change law governing strikes

A report that the government is considering making changes to labor regulations that would make it more difficult for unions to call strikes has threatened unity in the coalition government.

Two of the three coalition partners, PASOK and Democratic Left, voiced objections following a report in Sunday’s To Vima newspaper that suggested Labor Minister Yiannis Vroutsis of New Democracy wants to make changes that would require strikes to need the support of the majority of union members, while giving management the right to enforce a lockout if employees do not return to work.

“Mr Vroutsis and other ministers who are New Democracy members need to understand that they are not promoting their party’s policies but the program of a coalition government,” said PASOK spokesperson Fofi Gennimata.

“There has been no understanding regarding changes to the law and we are against any such discussion.”

Democratic Left’s Dimitris Chatzisokratis also stressed that his party had not consented to any change in the law regarding industrial action.

SYRIZA condemned the government for considering changes that it labelled as being against workers’ interests.

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