New bank hours spur protests
Saturday shoppers who intend to do some banking at either of Eurobank’s branches in two new malls in Athens and Thessaloniki today will likely be met by protesting unionists opposing recently approved extended banking hours. Eurobank, Greece’s third-largest lender, agreed with its staff this week to open two of its branches on Saturdays at The Mall Athens and Mediterranean Cosmos in Thessaloniki, two of the country’s largest shopping centers. Greek banks are open only from Monday to Friday. The Greek Federation of Bank Employees’ Unions (OTOE) has attacked the deal, saying it will promote unfair competition. The union fears the decision will set a precedent that other banks will follow. Left Coalition leader Alekos Alavanos raised the issue in Parliament yesterday by saying the government is doing nothing about the situation. Officials from the Finance and Labor ministries have failed to take a stance on the issue, which they said recently is a matter to be solved by union groups and employers.
