The European Federation of
Journalists (EFJ), the European group of the International Federation of
Journalists (IFJ), today backed Greece's
journalists and media workers who will take part in another day of strikes on
Wednesday 5 May.
Following the drastic "cost
cutting" plan imposed by the Greek Government over the public, including
journalists, the Journalists' Union of the Athens Daily Newspapers,
Journalists' Union of Macedonia Thrace daily Newspapers, the Periodical and
Electronic Press Union along with other unions representing media workers under
the auspices of the Panhellenic Federation of Journalists Unions are all
participating in the strike under the following demands:
- Withdrawal of the recent
anti-labour measures that harm not only the welfare of media workers, but threaten
the provision of news and information as a public good.
- Safeguard jobs, decent working
conditions, and the abandonment of plans for cuts and redundancies in the media
sector.
- Full adherence to the sector's
collective agreements, for all media workers.
- Guarantees over the media sector's
social and pension rights.
Two nation-wide strikes have already
been organised in recent months against the exceptional austerity measures
taken by the Greek government. This time, however, the strike will take place after
the Greek authorities and the European Union have concluded a wide range of
measures resulting in cuts to social benefits and reduction of pensions.
Journalists are asking for genuine social dialogue and safeguards for
independent and autonomous social security funds.
Messages of solidarity to the
striking journalists and the unions can be sent to the following address: [email protected]; [email protected]
For more information contact the EFJ
at +32 2 235 2215
The EFJ represents over 250,000 journalists in over 30 countries worldwide