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