Yesterday the government ordered the truck and tank owners to end their indefinite strike that halted Greece of fuel and caused serious problems in many islands during the peek period of summer. Prime Minister George Papandreou ordered the immediate civil mobilization after the meeting that took place between the ministry officials and truck owners which ended in deadlock. The Minister of Infrastructure, Transport and Networks Dimitris Reppas underlined that the government will proceed to a civil mobilization order, in case the strikes continued! “The state is not defenseless and the society is not unprotected!” underlined Mr. Reppas.
Transport Ministry General Secretary Haris Tsiokas noted that the government was always in favor of the dialogue but they could not allow the whole of Greece to become paralyzed because of a handful of people’s actions. During yesterday’s meeting, the truck and tank owners turned down the government’s proposal to end the strike and then begin the dialogue concerning the draft bill, as well as the other proposal made by Reppas offering them a second free license as compensation.
The strikers stressed that their main demand is that the draft bill is not tabled until the end of August, as well as a compensation equal to the value of their licenses. After the meeting the representative of the truck owners Mr. Tzortzatos, said that they will recommend the continuation of the mobilizations despite the government’s order. On the other hand, Prime Minister George Papandreou underlined that they should consider a new series of dialogue in a calmer atmosphere and of course “…not in a regime of blackmailing Greek society”.
In a few minutes the representatives of the truck owners are going to meet again with the Minister of Infrastructure, Transport and Networks Dimitris Reppas, for the final time in order to find a conciliatory solution to the problem.
(source: ana-mpa)
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