10 April, 2011
A strike by the ICEM affiliate, Pan-Hellenic Federation of Employees in Petroleum Products, Refineries, and the Chemical Industry (POEPDHV), was extended another week until 19 April. The strike began at Hellenic Petroleum’s (ELPE) flagship refinery in Aspropyrgos on 3 April, and then spread to Hellenic’s two other refineries at Elfsina and Thessaloniki after a judge declared the walkout legal.
Greek oil workers are striking over inadequate staffing levels and safety issues at ELPE’s new refinery units at Elfsina and Thessaloniki, as well as resistance to company plans to curb pay gains and link pay with productivity. The strikes, originally of 10-day durations, came with orderly shutdowns to ensure operational integrity of the refineries is maintained, and with assurances that full safety compliance is followed.
On Thursday, 7 April, POEPDHV announced another week of strike action, due to occur 12-19 April. Three days earlier, a judge denied ELPE’s request for injunctive relief in an effort to declare the strike illegal. POEPDHV President Nikos Orfanos said the extension is in full support of the workers’ struggle and on demand from refinery workers. Further bargaining between the union and ELPE is scheduled for 13 April.
ELPE operates three of Greece’s four refineries and controls 50% of the country’s downstream market. The company is 35.5% owned by the Greek government.
The ICEM fully support its Greek trade union affiliate and calls on the company to adequately staff its new refining units for safety reasons, as well as to justly compensate oil refinery workers.