In a strongly worded statement, the Corfu Hotel Employees and Catering-Tourism Workers Union has brought to light what it perceives as a blatant disregard for both environmental protection and the rights of its members by the current government.
Halikounas Controversy: A Precedent for Preferential Treatment?
The union’s announcement directly addresses a recent decision concerning the Halikounas area. According to a statement by the governmental MP and Deputy Minister for Corfu, and following his “actions,” the government is set to re-examine the classification of Halikounas. Furthermore, permits for two professionals, issued before the Joint Ministerial Decision (KYA) was published in the Government Gazette (FEK), will remain valid after its publication, regardless of prior knowledge of the KYA’s content. The union sarcastically notes, “The servicing of two professionals (naturally excellent and different from the thousands of others) turns the KYA, the law, and the FEK into a scrap of paper. No discussion, of course, about environmental protection… With a pre-announced intervention by the governmental MP, everything changes. Excellent!”
Environmental Concerns Ignored Amidst Business Interests
This decision has sparked outrage within the union, which unequivocally supports the designation of the area as a “Unified Ecosystem of Issos-Halikounas-Lagoon-Lagoudia.” They stand firmly against any business impunity in the region and advocate for the protection of Halikounas and Issos beaches as pristine and protected areas. The union’s statement suggests that the government’s willingness to bend rules for a select few businesses stands in stark contrast to its inaction on pressing environmental issues.
A Tale of Two Standards: Worker Demands Unmet
The core of the union’s critique lies in the perceived double standard applied by the government. They pose a critical question: If the MP and Deputy Minister can so quickly and easily overturn laws, Joint Ministerial Decisions, and Government Gazettes, bypassing state services to satisfy two “chosen” professionals-voters, why can’t he do the same for the following:
- The 44 employees of Sandy who have unjustly not received unemployment benefits for two years?
- The 15,000 seasonal workers who demand that unemployment benefits be extended to six months, tax-free, and at 80% of their salary?
- The hundreds of hotel employees who demand to receive the lump sum payment again after 20 years of service?
- The thousands of seasonal workers in Tourism who demand to be subsidized under the same conditions as those in Catering, so they don’t need 176 insurance stamps?
The union urges its members and other workers to reflect on their tolerance, indifference, or passive acceptance of what it terms “Mavrogialourism” (a Greek term referring to political opportunism and populism). They emphasize that while the government readily overturns regulations for its chosen few, it encounters “insurmountable obstacles” when it comes to addressing the needs of workers.
Call to Action: Nationwide Strike on June 24th
The union concludes by stating that such actions by the governmental MP naturally provoke anger and indignation. They call upon all workers to transform this anger into a collective struggle, with massive participation in the Nationwide Strike of the Sector on June 24th. This strike aims to bring attention to the unaddressed demands of hotel and catering workers and to protest against the government’s perceived favoritism.
The current situation in Corfu highlights a broader tension between economic development, environmental preservation, and social justice. The union’s strong stance underscores the growing frustration among workers who feel marginalized by policies that seem to prioritize business interests over their welfare and the protection of natural resources.
Source: https://kerkyra.net/kerkyra-xenodochoypalliloi-oute-lexi-gia-to-perivallon/
