Local government employees protest outside town hall over unpaid allowances

A protest gathering was held today, Tuesday, April 29, at 11:30 a.m. outside the town hall by local government (O.T.A.) employees of Corfu, following a unanimous decision by their Union’s Administrative Council, which met on April 24.

The protest was prompted — as stated in the Union’s official announcement — by the non-payment of the milk allowance for the years 2024 and 2025, as well as the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for 2024. According to the workers, although the Mayor of Central Corfu and Diapontia Islands had previously committed to immediate settlement after the budget was approved, the debts remain unpaid.

The president of the Union, speaking clearly, emphasised that the workers are not demanding anything beyond what they are entitled to: “We are not talking about overtime or special payments, but about legally established allowances related to our health and safety at work. We are asking for the full and immediate payment of all PPE for 2024, so that we can go out to work with the minimum protective equipment we are entitled to. We demand that the Municipal Authority provide us with a clear timeline for the payment of these allowances — not vague promises.”

For its part, the Municipal Authority responded that all of the workers’ claims, which are considered both lawful and reasonable, will be paid. However, regarding the timing of the payments, the Municipality’s Finance Department stated that it is not possible to set a specific date, as the process depends on receiving the relevant decisions from the Municipal Council. Once those documents reach the department, it assured that the payment orders will be issued immediately.

Nevertheless, the uncertainty around the timeline does not satisfy the workers, who say they are determined to escalate their protests if they do not receive immediate, clear and binding responses.

A.L.

ELENI KORONAKI