The indefinite strike by employees of the Ministry of Education’s support programs continues, with their main demands being a guaranteed income during the summer months and the resolution of outstanding issues regarding their employment and pay. Speaking on the Alpha News program, Chrysovalanto Argyrou, a teacher in the support programs, described the financial difficulties her colleagues are facing, while attorney Demosthenes Stefanidis commented on the issue of benefit payments and worker protection.
Ms. Argyrou explained that, following the change in the employment regime, employees who had completed 30 months of service in specific programs were transferred to permanent status, without, however, any guarantee of income for the months during which they are not working. As he noted, until last year, employees received unemployment benefits, which is no longer the case for those who have transitioned to the new system. Challenging the claim that they knew in advance they would not be eligible for the benefits, she asked: “How were we supposed to know? When did we know? It’s not in the law.”
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According to her, the workers are demanding either the payment of unemployment benefits or the creation of a special allowance to cover the summer months, during which training programs are not in session. “First of all, we are asking for either unemployment benefits or at least an allowance during the summer months so that we can make ends meet, because it’s not our choice that we don’t work in the summer,” she said, noting that they are still awaiting answers regarding the possibility of receiving such assistance. At the same time, she referred to the different categories of workers, pointing out that her colleagues who had served in the DRASE program did not have their prior service recognized in other programs, with the result that some remain unemployed.
She made special mention of delays in salary payments, complaining that several of her colleagues have not been paid for September and October. “I took on a segment on public television in September. I took on another one in October. I still don’t have an amended contract for October,” she said, explaining that she was paid only for the first course. As she noted, pay depends on the number of classes each employee teaches, with monthly earnings for four classes potentially reaching approximately €1,200, depending on the situation.
For his part, attorney Demosthenes Stefanidis argued that there must be financial protection for employees during periods when they are not working, expressing the view that unemployment benefits should be paid. “You can’t just leave someone without paying them for months. A salary is essentially about ensuring a decent standard of living. It is a necessary means of survival,” he said.
At the same time, he emphasized: “I need you for a specific period of time, but I can’t leave you without pay over the summer. You should be paid as usual.” It should be clarified that this is the legal opinion he expressed and not a confirmed court ruling regarding the right to receive these specific allowances.
Meanwhile, the employees—who, according to Ms. Argyrou, number approximately 1,000 in total—are continuing their protests, demanding that the government fulfill its commitments. Today, Thursday, November 5, a rally is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. outside the Ministry of Finance, followed by a march to the Presidential Palace, where they are expected to submit a petition outlining their demands.
