Latest round in culture dispute
The short truce between the Culture Ministry and its contract workers is set to be broken today as the employees begin three days of planned demonstrations in front of the National Archaeological Museum. The workers, who are demanding they be given permanent jobs, are planning to protest at the Acropolis tomorrow and are considering blocking its entrance for a sixth time in three weeks. On Friday, they intend to block the way into the Culture Ministry. Last week, the contract employees scaled back their protest after President Karolos Papoulias chided them for blocking the Acropolis and preventing hundreds of tourists from visiting the Parthenon. The Culture Ministry has since tabled an amendment that attempts to settle the dispute by offering the workers another year, or possibly two, of employment. Culture Minister Antonis Samaras said that a «small minority» continued to overlook this legislation.
