In late June 1998, the end appeared to be in sight in a dispute between Hellenic Posts workers and management, sparked by the latter's alleged unilateral violation of agreements with the postal workers' trade union.
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In late June 1998, the end appeared to be in sight in a dispute between Hellenic Posts workers and management, sparked by the latter's alleged unilateral violation of agreements with the postal workers' trade union.
Workers and management at Hellenic Posts (ELTA) were locked in dispute for several days beginning on 15 June 1998. According to the chair of the ELTA Employees' Federation (OME ELTA) post office management had unilaterally violated two operational agreements signed with workers' representatives on 2 February and 25 May 1998 respectively.
OME ELTA accused management of violating the first agreement, regarding post office staffing, by making possession of a university degree a mandatory qualification for management posts. According to OME ELTA, the majority of employees in higher management are holders of degrees from the ELTA vocational schools or the Technical Educational Institutes. Therefore, by the condition management has set, all categories of workers apart from the 300 or so university degree holders are excluded. This is true even for incumbent directors, who are not even given the right to be considered. The second agreement concerns the transferability and even distribution of staff, using employees from post office branches experiencing staff surpluses to fill posts in other branches with staff shortages. The Federation states that although the conditions for transferability were agreed upon by both sides, they was never implemented. In this context, the workers gave management until 5 July to comply with agreed conditions.
In an interview on 22 June, the president of OME ELTA said that ELTA management appeared to be backing down on the above issues and that there was no longer a question of workers taking industrial action. However, developments relating to other labour relations issues - including the grading system, disciplinary rules and working hours - are expected to be decisive. The OME ELTA president stated that it is practically impossible for workers and management to agree upon all issues in the timeframe which has been set by the Government, before the end of July. Thus, in the event that the Government does not leave the necessary time for fundamental, effective dialogue, and goes ahead to regulate labour relations by law, then a clash with the unions will be inevitable.
Eurofound doporučuje citovat tuto publikaci následujícím způsobem.
Eurofound (1998), Post office dispute close to resolution, article.
