The General Federation of DEI employees (GENOP DEI)has announced its intention to carry out 48-hour rolling strikes in response to the coalition government’s controversial privatization plans. In its statement GENOP DEI demands the repeal of the controversial bill and that a referendum be conducting, while arguing that the “government does not have the moral and democratic authority to privatize the DEI group”.
Additionally, GENOP has called the President to intervene on the matter and requested that the government presents its energy planning for the country. According to a report in the Tuesday edition of Ta Nea, an unnamed government official noted that the government will not tolerate DEI unionists to shut down power plans.
Meanwhile the secretary of the “Spartacus” Sakis Mastoras employee union announced that all DEI power stations will go on strike at midnight on Wednesday, should the controversial “mini DEI” bill pass in Parliament. Mr. Mastoras stressed that “wherever electricity is produced, there will be a strike”.
In response, the coalition government has threatened the DEI employee unions with a civil mobilization.
On Tuesday the president of SYRIZA Alexis Tsipras visited the power station at Amyntaio and attended a local rally and demonstration against the privatization of DEI. The PAME chapter in Kozani has also announced a strike rally for Thursday in the city center.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Bishop of Servia and Kozani Pavlos sent a letter to Prime Minister Samaras informing him that the potential sale of DEI has caused “agony and pain” to the local population, many of whom lost their land and were forced to move when the power stations were initially built, while others found employment.
