Today the International Federation of Journalists and its regional group, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), condemned a Greek court’s decision to send journalists’ union leader Dimitris Trimis to jail for his union activities during a 2004 strike.
Trimis, the General Secretary of the Journalists’ Union of Athens Daily Newspaper (JUADN) Executive Board, was convicted of engaging in “illegal violence” against SKAI 100.3 radio station executives and owner Ioannis Alafouzos, who attempted to cross the picket line during a strike in July 2004. The Piraeus Penal Court of First Instance has sentenced Trimis to five months imprisonment and three years of probation.
“This decision is simply an attempt to criminalise trade union actions” said EFJ Chair Arne König.
JUADN says the radio station executives were using various strikebreaking techniques during the 2004 strike and behaved aggressively as the union tried to safeguard and protect the workers’ rights.
After hearing the court’s decision, the JUADN Executive Board said that SKAI 100.3’s management acted in a “demeaning and aggressive manner” against all the union’s efforts to safeguard and protect workers rights.
Trimis can now appeal the court decision at the Court of Appeals.
“On behalf of the profession, we expect that the Court of Appeals will drop all charges against Dimitris and show respect for trade union rights,” König said.
See previous IFJ statements:
9 February 2007, EFJ Calls on Greece to Throw Out Charges against Journalists’ Union Leader
http://www.ifj.org/default.asp?index=4619&Language=EN
14 July 2004, IFJ Warns Over “Strikebreaking” Use of Global Networks as All-Out Stoppage Hits Greek Media
http://www.ifj.org/default.asp?index=2610&Language=EN
For more information contact the EFJ at 32 2 235 2200
The EFJ represents over 260.000 journalists in more than 40 countries
