Greeks angered by "princes of parliament" pay fight

Reuters ^ | 11-11-12 | Michael Winfrey and Lefteris Papadimas

[dynachrome]

When Greece's government pushed through a law last week aimed at slashing public wages and raising taxes, its biggest threat was not the firebrand opposition or the 100,000 protesters thronged at the gates of parliament.

It was the assembly's workers themselves, a well-connected group that has long evoked disdain for enjoying the kind of lavish pay and benefits that have become emblematic of the public sector excess at the heart of Greece's debt crisis.

The staff dispute that image. But, having discovered that a 500-odd page draft law of cost cuts and tax hikes included a last minute amendment giving the finance ministry oversight over parliamentary pay, dozens of clerks walked off the job.

"Thieves!" they shouted at parliamentarians as they blocked the doors to the chamber, according to a witness, who saw some workers try to hit journalists who were filming them.

[dynachrome]

"We used to get the 16 monthly salaries, election bonuses and so on. But all this has been cut... I have 25 years experience and I get 1,040 euros a month, net," he said.

"What's happening with the media is absurd. By attacking us they are targeting the political system... We can't go out with our children and our spouses in society."

A finance ministry official said Stounaras would resubmit the amendment in an effort to eliminate all bonus schemes within the state system. Politis said the assembly's workers would it block again.

He fears it could threaten the last uncut benefits - overtime payments worth up to 500 euros a month and a 60-salary retirement bonus that could amount to 150,000 euros or more for workers with 30 years experience.

"Of course we don't agree with cutting our retirement bonuses. This is our money," he said, explaining they were partially funded by monthly contributions from workers.

"If they bring it back in the same way, we will stop it...Maybe more forcefully this time."

[dynachrome]

They were all for it until they found out they were included in the austerity bill! LOL!

[GeronL]

these people still think money grows on trees

[snoringbear]

Perhaps it’s time we quit mocking the Greeks and start mocking ourselves. After all, we are on the road to becoming Greece. Maybe we should start referring to our friend across the pond as Little Greece and ourselves as Big Greece. What do you think?.

[kingu]

Obama has never held a private job, yet is a millionaire. Was a millionaire before even running for the senate.

Yeah, public service is such a drag on the pocketbook...

[kabar]

The people are us. We will react the same way when the US can no longer keep the promises of the welfare state. Look at the handwringing now over sequestration, which is really nothing. $100 billion a year in cuts for 10 years when you have a $3.7 trillion annual budget. We are talking about 2.7% reduction.

The austerity measures being imposed on the Greek people are draconian and this is the third wave of such measures. It is time for the politicians to stop trying to stay in the EU and to stop accepting the EU bribes to keep this slow motion national bankruptcy going. There is no way they can get out of this mess except to declare bankruptcy and go back to the drachma. 25% unemployment and a contraction of GDP of over 25% in just the past few years. It is insanity. It is also cruel.

[GeronL]

The EU membership payments are draconian. :p