Solidarity with Public Service Broadcasting Workers in Greece
The UNI Europa Executive Committee at its meeting in Athens on 6-7 May 2014 discussed the dramatic situation of public service broadcasting in Greece and restated its solidarity with public service broadcasting workers and their union.
Since 11 June 2013 our colleagues have resisted the shutdown of ERT and continued providing 24 hour public service broadcasting. To provide the best access to Greek citizens possible, the union and workers currently finance the transmission of the programmes via satellite. This comes at an important monthly cost and financial sacrifice by the workers and the union.
The UNI Europa Executive Committee and the entire trade union community in the public service broadcasting sector condemned the Greek government’s pretence of having set-up a new public broadcaster, so called “NERIT”. NERIT started broadcasting on Sunday 4 May 2014. NERIT does not provide true public service broadcasting and is a mere renaming of the interim state broadcaster (DT) set-up in September 2013. All public service missions that ERT fulfilled have been dropped. UNI Europa will continue supporting the resistance of our colleagues. The only element of hope for maintaining and developing public service broadcasting values lays with ERTopen. The UNI Europa Executive Committee applauded the ERT staff and their union who – against all odds, enormous pressure and discrimination – have not stopped providing TV, radio and Internet-based services. The broadcasting staff and union at ERTopen never ceased defending democracy and public service values, despite the imposed shutdown of ERT.
The UNI Europa Executive Committee collected funds in support of colleagues and POSPERT. Thus far, UNI Europa and BBTK-SETCa contributed with additional funds. A public broadcaster is vital for the authentic functioning of democracy. The struggle for the survival of ERT symbolises the fight Greek workers and unions have to uphold amidst this unprecedented crisis and imposed austerity.
UNI Europa calls on affiliates to support colleagues and POSPERT financially as workers and the union together actually finance the satellite service. UNI Europa urges its affiliates to visit www.ertopen.com and support the workers and their union. Each contribution, even small amounts, will help our colleagues in Greece to continue their struggle. Contributions can be made via bank transfer to:
Account Holder: POSPERT,
Address: Messoghion 432, 153 42 Aghia Paraskevi, Athens, Greece
IBAN: GR 39 0110 1800 0000 1804 8007 100
SWIFT BIC: ETHNGRAA
National Bank of Greece
Branch Agias Paraskevis 180/180
On 14 May 2014, POSPERT and the former ERT workers organise a 24-hour Radio Marathon resisting the unacceptable shutdown of the public broadcaster and calling for the reinstatement of ERT.