The Ministry of Development’s bill regarding the “Measures to support the relatives of the victims and those affected by the February 28, 2023 train accident in Tempe, pension provision, arrangements to enhance security” was accepted by a majority by the Parliament’s Committee on Production and Trade of transport, provisions to enhance development, interventions to modernize tourism legislation and other urgent provisions”.

Only the government MPs were in favor of his principle, while SYRIZA, PASOK-KINAL and Hellenic Solution were reserved and the KKE together with MERA25 declared that they would vote against it.

All the opposition parties clarified, however, that they support the measures for the relatives of the victims and those affected by the train accident in Tempe.

Observations and objections of non-parliamentary bodies to the 132 articles

Earlier, the competent extra-parliamentary bodies had been invited and expressed their views on the multi-bill, which includes 132 articles with regulations from several ministries, with the great majority of them expressing observations and objections, while all agreed with the support measures for the families of the victims and those affected by the Tempe tragedy.

In particular, Mr Giorgos Hotzogloupresident of the Panhellenic Federation of Food Workers, expressed serious objections to the bill, stressing that it does not touch the serious problems of the sector, while he requested “the reinstatement of the five-month unemployment allowance and the declaration of a mandatory general collective labor agreement”.

THE Christos Tsitourascommander of the Civil Aviation Authority, stressed the “need for amendments for the smooth operation of airports”, emphasizing in particular “the expansion of transfers and the immediate recruitment of personnel by announcing jobs to cover vacancies, mainly in administrative positions with full procedures transparency”.

THE Lysandros Tsilidispresident of the Federation of Hellenic Associations of Tourist and Travel Agencies, described as “permissibly unacceptable” the provisions that involve responsibilities with their industry and the provisions that allow passenger cars, transport.

THE Nikolaos Karageorgopoulospresident of the Panhellenic Association of Employees in the Development Program Organization and Management Unit, accused the Ministry of Infrastructure of “failing its commitment to a solution to their problem in terms of restoring the chronic wage inequality so that equal pay and equal work apply to all 1,000 workers in MOD”.

THE Petros Mantas, president of the Board of Directors of the Panhellenic Association of Industrial Areas, protested the change in the method of calculating municipal management fees from factory square meters to plot square meters, stressing that owners will be forced to pay exorbitant surcharges and requested the withdrawal of the provision.

THE George Dritsakoscommander of the Civil Aviation Service, emphasized the “need for immediate recruitment of employees with fast and transparent procedures in the Service, in order to cover key gaps”, as he said.

THE Manolis Kamilakispresident of the Panhellenic Association of Airports of the Civil Aviation Service, disagreed with the bill, arguing that “there is no planning, only rough solutions” and spoke of “criminal provisions” that do not ensure the safety of transport, noting that “no we learned from Tempi”.

Mr. Kamilakis emphasized the recruitment of the necessary number of specialized personnel for flight safety and the re-establishment of the local control authorities of the CAA, with appropriate personnel.

“The government increased the percentage of unskilled workers. They are playing with red tape, at the expense of the public interest and the safety of passengers,” he said.

THE Alexandros Kahrimanisthe regional governor of Epirus, requested the immediate vesting of the professional rights of graduates of five-year Agricultural Schools, characterizing the regulation as vague.

“Graduates of agricultural schools cannot remain captive. They are not children. He must close this issue which is creating a huge upheaval and has already led to the resignation of university professors. The relevant ministries must bring proper regulation. These are not serious matters, their evaluation should be postponed to the future”, said Mr. Kahrimanis.

Anastasios Tsinas, president of the Department of Agriculture of the University of Ioannina, also focused on the “immediate performance of the professional rights of all graduates of agricultural schools”.

He moved in the same direction Nikolaos Katsarakisrector of the Hellenic Mediterranean University, stressing the “need to immediately abolish discrimination and the anachronistic legislative framework and return the professional rights of all graduates of agricultural schools”.

“All departments of agricultural schools implement five-year programs. There must be equal treatment and the solution of the problem should not be referred to a ministerial decision in the future”, he noted.

Alexandra Pavloudi, president of the International University’s Department of Agriculture, described Article 126 as a positive step for securing the professional rights of graduates of agricultural schools, however, as she said, “it exudes ambiguities and vagueness that must be corrected.”

THE George Lehouritispresident of the Consumer Institute of the General Federation of Consumers of Greece, expressed his disagreement with the provision concerning the operation of Consumer Organizations, arguing that it “prohibits the investigations they do and indeed at a time when society is experiencing accuracy”.

Mr. Lehouritis requested its withdrawal, attributing expediencies to the government.

He stated the opposite George Vlassopoulospresident of the Panhellenic Federation of Industrial Elevator Maintenance Technicians, with the regulations concerning his sector, arguing that it involves unauthorized bodies creating problems in terms of the risk of accidents.

As he pointed out, 6.5 million trips are made with the elevators and the licensing control should be strict and assigned to a public body only.

THE Ioannis Ditsas, president of the Panhellenic Railway Federationstated that he agrees with all the support measures for the relatives of the victims and those affected by the accident in Tempi, however he disagreed with the arrangements concerning the security sector of the railway network, while he stressed the need to immediately solve the recruitment problem.

“The recruitment process is time-consuming and is expected to be completed after the elections. It must be hastened,” he noted.

THE Konstantinos Genidounias, president of the Panhellenic Union of Traction Staff of the OSEsaid that “if the ministry had met and listened to the concerns of the workers’ representatives about safety measures, the Tempe train accident could have been avoided” and accused the infrastructure ministry of refusing to meet with them.

At the same time, he asked for the rehiring of the guards, criticized the government for the recruitment process, characterizing it as corrupt, and expressed his disagreement with regard to the station masters, asking, among other things, that they have experience.

At the same time, he requested that the selection and evaluation be done by a special committee, suggesting that the competitive process be taken seriously.

They disagreed with the provisions of the bill representatives of the artistsfocusing on it “disconnecting the rehearsal from the performance” arguing that it “leads to undeclared and uninsured work” while stressing that it does not include anything for technical staff.

Aris Liaskos, secretary general of the Union of Greek Actors, accused the Ministry of Culture of “covertly and without any consultation proceeding to protect undeclared and uninsured work, not recognizing the rehearsal as one with the performance, thus turning a blind eye to the producers in whom he gives contracts with a pad as a gift.

“You are opening the door for trademarks, for non-dependent and full-time contracts, while there are completely no provisions for technical staff”, he pointed out, while also expressing his opposition to the digital work card and the Artists’ Registry, which, he said, does not ensure the privacy.

Constantinos Kehagioglou, president of the Panhellenic Federation of Performing Arts Akroamas, also agreed with the views of Mr. Liaskos, supplementing the request for securing the professional rights of the artists which, as he said, the government refuses to provide a solution.

Vassilis Paraskevopoulos, president of the Panhellenic Music Association, also moved along the same wavelength as the Artists’ unions, characterizing “unacceptable the separation of rehearsal and performance and the possibility for the employer to fire without reason” while he described the Artists’ Register as dangerous and requested the withdrawal of the provisions .

Konstantinos Paschalidis, a member of the board of the Association of Greek Archaeologists, spoke of the “sudden and without discussion with the scientific bodies the submission of a multi-bill” and expressed his disagreement with the regulations of the Ministry of Culture, stressing that “they are vague, they are absolutely pre-election in nature while the 5 major public museums of the country remain in a state of business autonomy”.

THE Kostas Minasgeneral secretary of the Federation of Civil Aviation Service Associations, agreed with the views of other competent representatives both in terms of train safety measures and recruitment procedures, while stressing that their safety to date is due to the honor of the workers.

THE Socrates Deligianniss, representative of the Beautician Environmental Association under Afaia Skaramaga, stated his opposition to the arrangement that gives the owner of the Skaramaga shipyards the possibility of multiple uses, expressing strong concerns “about the use of natural gas without taking into account that within 50 meters of its boundaries are houses”.

Nikos Grendzelos, president of the Association of Professional Car Driver Trainers of Western Attica, expressed his satisfaction with the arrangements concerning driving schools and the expansion of the Registry of employees who have been trained.

Contrary to the provisions of the bill, said Thymios Lymberopoulospresident of the Taxi Drivers’ Union of Attica, arguing that “the government is proceeding with the division of the sector, restoring the possibility of urban transport which has been condemned by the European Commission”.

As he said, “more than 50,000 are the vehicles that make transfers without being taxis”, and asked to ban urban transport.

Serafim Kasidiaris, president of the Panhellenic Federation of Professional Taxi Drivers and Market Owners, accused the government of not showing any willingness to fix the problems, while he asked that they have the right to all the islands, including the Aegean which are excluded, and in addition asked to amend the provision on the criminal record and instead of asking for judicial use it concerns general use.

THE Apostolos Rautopoulos, president of the Board of Directors of the Union of Technicians and Workers OASA -OSYimmediately asked to include arrangements for collective agreements, emphasized the need for salary progression for employees, while he spoke of creating two levels of employees.