OLP injunction contested both in and outside court
The administration of Piraeus Port Authority (OLP) and its employees fought inside and outside a Piraeus court yesterday, each side defending its positions on whether the workers have the right to continue the strike action they began on January 5. The court hearing ended yesterday and a decision in the case is expected to be issued today. OLP decided to have recourse to justice, in an effort to have the industrial action declared illegal, arguing that its continuation is not only causing serious financial problems for the company but also harming both incoming and outgoing trade. On their part, the employees maintained that the injunction application that was filed by OLP in effect seeks to criminalize strike action. While the hearing continued in court, minor clashes broke out just outside the building when striking port workers confronted one of their colleagues who had testified against the strike action in court. Police had to intervene to end the scuffles. Yesterday, the Federation of Port Employees in Greece (OMYLE) sent an official letter to OLP, the Merchant Marine Ministry and the Finance Ministry, alleging illegality in OLP’s decision to concede the Piraeus container station’s operations to private investors, in accordance with a relevant government decision.
