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Fight continues for staff sacked from Elounda Breeze Hotel

The Hotel Workers Union of the staff at the Elounda Breeze Hotel and the Lasithi branch of the Food-Hotel-Tourism and related professions union, Talos, have sent a memorandum to the Director of the Region of Crete, Stavros Arnaoutakis and to three other members of the Regional Council.

The memorandum reads as follows:

Tourism in Greece, especially on our island, is referred to by many, and quite rightly so, as the “heavy industry” of the Country.

Thousands of workers in the field of tourism, from those employed in luxury hotels, to small units, in high class restaurants, to small tavernas, in nightclubs to cafeterias, work, live and contribute to the economy of their area, within this industry.

An industry that in the period of crisis, not only has it not seen losses for the big hoteliers, but increased profits, whilst during the same period, the wages of hotel employees, have shrunk dramatically, the collective work agreements are not being honoured and workers rights are being trampled in abundance.

This is the so-called “growth” that is being used in justification.

Profit for hoteliers, exploitation for the hotel staff.

These people who work, in most cases on a seasonal basis and in the best case scenario, work for six months in order to live for twelve, who have no other income to support their families, except for their wages – in many cases, having to put up with difficult conditions, with concentrated rotas, with unpaid overtime – have to be paid immediately and in the opposite case, they should maintain every right to claim, to struggle and to be organised within a trade union, for the monies they are due.

The executive of the Regional Council for Tourism, Mr. Michalis Vamiadakis, shows his social self, by vengefully sacking those who work in his hotel businesses, that raise their heads and fight for their rights, or belong to a trade union.

We ask the Regional Council to take a stand and answer the thousands of workers of the area, to condemn the vindictive sackings of our colleagues who did the obvious: Struggled and fought for what they are entitled and now are being punished for their fight.

Their employer, Mr. Vamiadakis, with these sackings, is sending a bullying message, threatening anyone who dares to fight for their rights.

We expect the Regional Council to respond to the thousands of workers of our area, if they agree with this kind of manipulation.

If the Regional Council is indifferent to the sackings of workers in this time of crisis, or if it agrees with them.

If the Regional Council agrees with the practices of Mr. Vamiadakis, as someone who is an Executive Advisor in the area of Tourism, or if they denounce them.

Mr. Arnaoutakis and others of the Regional Council, you must take a stance.

The workers of Crete in Tourism, have every right to know if you are by their side, or against them!

Agios Nikolaos 30th March 2017

Employees Union of Elounda Avra Hotels, (Elounda Breeze Hotel)
and
TALOS Union, Lasithi branch.