Posted on 11/11/2012 3:27:58 PM PST by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at mobile.reuters.com ...
"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."
They were all for it until they found out they were included in the austerity bill! LOL!
these people still think money grows on trees
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?.
Yeah, public service is such a drag on the pocketbook...
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.
The EU membership payments are draconian. :p
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.