Greece: Huge victory for unions in protecting journalists' pensions and welfare

The Greek Supreme Court has rejected attempts by media employers' organisations to slash pensions and welfare payments to journalists in a major victory for the Journalists Union of Athens Daily Newspapers (JUADN) following a two and a half year fight.

IFJ President Younes M'Jahed joins representatives of Greek journalists unions at the Supreme Court in Athens

The International Federation of Journalists congratulated the Journalists Union of Athens Daily Newspapers (JUADN), which led the campaign, and other IFJ affiliates in Greece, on their victory over plans to cut the 2% employers contribution to EDOEAP (Press Medical Care and Supplementary Pension Fund) which would have forced the scheme's closure leaving thousands of journalists and media workers without medical care, supplementary pensions and fixed retirement benefits.

In a statement the JUADN Executive said: "We extend our thanks to the entire legal team handling the case. In addition we thank for supporting our struggle the hundreds of colleagues and journalists’ Unions from all over the world as well as IFJ President Younes Mjahed, who came to Greece to attend the Supreme Court hearing just 48 hours after being elected to the post. Justice has spoken".

IFJ President Younes M'Jahed said: "It was an honour to support our Greek colleagues in fighting this attempt by employers to starve their pension and welfare fund. Huge conratulations to them for this vital victory on behalf of their members".

For more information, please contact IFJ on +32 2 235 22 16

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 146 countries

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