Court finds steelworkers’ strike illegal

An Athens court has deeemed illegal a strike launched by workers of the Hellenic Steel Company, in Aspropyrgos, west of Athens, last October.

The case was tried on May 29 and the ruling, issued on Tuesday, was to be enforced immediately, according to sources, meaning that striking workers were expected back on the job on Wednesday.

The workers’ union did not immediately issue an official reaction to the decision but the Communist Party-affiliated labor union (PAME), which claims to have championed the workers’ cause, said the ruling «confirmed that justice was influenced by class.» Members of PAME blocked the entrance to the steel plant to protest the court ruling. But a spokeswoman for the workers told Skai that employees were «hostages» to PAME and said she had asked the Communist protesters to withdraw so that workers can access the premises.

Ekathimerini.com