PASOK works to keep labor leaders in line
Officials of the ruling PASOK party are scrambling to prevent a rift in the leadership of the two largest labor unions as senior unionists aligned with PASOK disagree over their response to the government’s proposals for social security reform. The civil servants’ federation (ADEDY) has called a 24-hour strike for today, which will affect state hospitals, schools and public offices. A protest rally will be held at noon in the Korai Street pedestrian precinct. ADEDY President Spyros Papaspyrou, who is a PASOK member but is in favor of the strike, was strongly criticized at a meeting on Tuesday by Deputy Labor Minister Rovertos Spyropoulos and General Confederation of Greek Labor (GSEE) President Christos Polyzogopoulos, who is also a senior PASOK member. GSEE is the largest labor organization in the land, covering workers in the private and broader public sector. Its leadership is likely to face the thorny problem of having to decide whether to also hold a strike condemning the social security proposals on April 18, as Thessaloniki’s labor center is to decide on the issue today, followed by the Athens and Piraeus labor centers tomorrow. The government has proposed that the retirement age come after 37 years of work, irrespective of the employees’ age, and that special bonds be issued to help cover funding for the Social Security Foundation (IKA) fund. Polyzogopoulos has said the proposals are a good start. Other unionists – those allied with opposition parties but also many from PASOK – are opposed to the changes. Many of the differences stem from the vested interests that the unionists represent, with those from IKA-related unions supporting the proposals and those from more privileged funds (such as public utilities and banks) criticizing them. But many PASOK unionists are also wary of endorsing proposals that may trigger widespread reactions by other parties and workers. Papaspyrou said the proposals were better than those originally made by the government a year ago. But, he added, «this does not mean that union leaders have to accept a reduction in the proportional amount of support (from the State) that pensions will be receiving in the midterm.» Sources said yesterday that immediately after today’s strike, Papaspyrou will announce his resignation from PASOK’s labor secretariat in protest at the criticism that has been leveled at him.
