The executive board of the Panhellenic Seamen’s Union (PNO) decided on Friday to immobilize ships whose owners owe back-pay to their employees. The measure will apply from Thursday March, 27.
PNO will also proceed with a 24-hour nationwide strike on the day the Ministry of Shipping and the Aegean tables its bill on tourist vessels and other provisions, and will join in the 24-hour nationwide strike announced by the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE), on April 9.
PNO has sent an official announcement to the Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and Minister of Shipping and the Aegean Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, as well as the leaders of the Greek political parties, shipping companies and banks involved, informing them of the issue of unpaid wages. For the past two years, shipping companies have been taking advantage of the political and financial situation of Greece to stall salary payments to their employees, with some mariners working unpaid for as long as six months.
PNO said that it will start immobilization measures against its debtors at the port of Piraeus and extend its action to other ports across Greece. The union has in the past threatened to take action against six shipowners who owe their workers months of unpaid wages.
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