News

UNI Global Union and UNI Europa send its sincere condolences to the families and work colleagues of the two women and one man who were tragically killed yesterday while at work in Greece. The three bank employees working in Marfin - Egnatia Bank were victims of disturbances that occurred at the end of the peaceful labour demonstration in the centre of Athens. The three employees were trapped in their workplace and unable to find their way out when the branch burst into flames.



General Secretary of UNI Global Union, Philip Jennings says:

"It is an absolute tragedy that this should happen to ordinary workers carrying out their daily work. We are deeply saddened to know that innocent workers have been killed at a time when our local union OTOE had warned the banks to take adequate precautions. We will work with our Greek union colleagues to ensure that this tragedy is not repeated.”



UNI Finance affiliate OTOE in Greece said today “OTOE explicitly condemns such acts of violence, which cannot solve any of the problems of society and of our country and demands the exemplary punishment of the culprits.”



OTOE has demanded a meeting with the Minister of Civil Protection to express their concern that local bank management did not take the necessary security measures.



This tragic event which has taken the lives of three colleagues comes amidst a larger Greek drama of a failing economy and measures which will hammer living standards.

ΟΤΟΕ expresses their indignation and anger on behalf of all bank employees in the sector and of the whole trade union movement against the direct and moral culprits who caused the tragic death of three of innocent workers.



Bernadette Segol, Regional Secretary of UNI Europa stated "that the Greek people are paying an unfair and unbearable price for years of their government's mismanagement, foreign speculation and lack of, adequate EU economic governance.”