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23 May, 2011
Better than 99% of 2,400 Greek oil refinery workers ended a four-day strike at three oil refineries this morning, 23 May, sending a strong message that they will not become economic scapegoats inside Greece’s financial crisis. It was the second major strike in six weeks against Greek industrial giant Hellenic Petroleum by ICEM affiliate Pan-Hellenic Federation of Employees in Petroleum Products, Refineries, and the Chemical Industry (POEPDHV), and its courageous branch union, the Pan-Hellenic Union of Employees in Hellenic Petroleum.
Following a 17-day legal strike from 3-19 April (see ICEM report here), the union was prepared for further industrial action on 6 May. But Hellenic Petroleum gained a court order blocking the strike, something that failed in April. Last week, the company did not seek court action, perhaps speculating that large numbers of oil workers at Aspropyrgos, Thessaloniki, and Elefsina refineries would not honour the strike.
19 May: Aspropyrgos Refinery
If so, Hellenic Petroleum guessed wrong. But why would it expect any differently when the company is out to slash salaries by 20-25%? Or different by the way the company disrespects staff by engaging in a public campaign declaring unionised oil workers are overpaid with too many perks?
Besides the steep wage cuts, Hellenic is seeking to abolish a skills recognition or experience value system reached by continuous employment progressions, and an increase in the work-week from the present 38 hours. The company, 35% owned by the Greek state, posted €208 million in net profit in 2010 and is on target for surpassing that in 2011.
At a press conference on 19 May, the start of this latest strike, union leaders and branch union militants expressed anger that oil workers were being painted the scapegoats. “It is not our salaries that are to blame for the crisis and this is the message voiced by today’s strike turnout,” POEPDHV President Nikos Orfanes.
Panagiotis Ofthalmidis, Nikos Orfanes
Panagiotis Ofthalmidis, chairman of the branch union, Pan-Hellenic Union of Employees in Hellenic Petroleum, is also on the company’s board of directors representing workers. He told the press briefing that the company has “devalued workers through the media” and asked: “If they cut our salaries where will the savings go? Will it go to social causes? Or will it go in the pockets of shareholders.”
The ICEM and the European Mine, Chemical, and Energy Federation (EMCEF) lent the Greek unions support at the press conference in refuting the company’s claims that Greek oil workers are the highest paid in Europe.
This past weekend’s strike resulted in resumption in bi-lateral talks that will take place next week. The union is seeking only inflation level increases, but also is demanding full staffing (250 jobs) next year at new refining units coming on line at the Elfinsa refinery. The union and Hellenic are five months into a six-month dispute resolution process under Greek labour law. It runs until late June, at which time the contract is terminated. Due to the stalemate and entrenched positions of senior Hellenic management, the union had engaged in 24-hour strikes throughout March.
Late last year, the two sides agreed to a set of social obligations related to impending industrial activity, as required under Greek law. It includes safety maintenance during strikes, ordering shutdowns and start-ups of equipment for operational integrity, and minimal levels of production for emergency public services.