Probe ordered into allegations that striking university staff getting full pay

Athens prosecutor Panayiota Fakou on Wednesday ordered a probe into allegations that administrative staff at the University of Athens and the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) have been receiving full pay despite being on strike for the past two months.

Fakou was reacting to media reports suggesting that staff at the two institutions have not had their pay docked while they protest government plans to place some 1,300 administrative workers from Greek universities into a labor mobility scheme as part of ongoing efforts to streamline the civil service.

Eight Greek universities, including Athens University and the NTUA, have been on strike for the past eight weeks over the decision, preventing the start of the academic year.

According to local media reports, the two universities’ administrations contend that the striking staff is being paid regularly because the payroll departments are closed and cannot be informed about the strike.