PAME unionists tear at shutters at Labor Ministry, clash with police
Riot police had to use tear gas on Tuesday to push back protesters with the PAME union trying to rush their vans after tearing at the metal shutters in front of the Labor Ministry in downtown Athens.
A few dozen protesters belonging to the communist-affiliated union attacked the Labor Ministry during a rally opposing planned reforms to union regulations. They tore at the metal shutters protecting the building’s entrance and broke off a few of the metal letters spelling out the ministry’s name. They then attacked riot police dispatched to the scene.
The PAME rally had been planned last week and wasn’t cancelled even though the Labor Ministry on Monday night said it is withdrawing the contentious amendment that would make calling a strike much harder for unions.
Representatives further said that PAME will be participating in a 24-hour strike on December 14 called by civil servants’ ADEDY, which also proceeded with its planned walk-off on Tuesday.
