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At the Acropolis in Athens, the Greek police on Thursday took action against protesting civil servants from the Culture Ministry who want their unpaid wages, for some up to 22 months, and a contract extension.
On the second day the Acropolis was shut down by Culture Ministry workers, the police, acting on a court order, fired tear gas and charged at workers in order to free access to the ancient site.
The dozens of protesters intend to block the entrance to the famous tourist site until the end of the month.
In order to comply with the measures that need to be taken to improve Greece’s financial position, the government is looking to minimize public spending.
Contracts of 320 ministry employees expiring at the end of this month will not be renewed, even though “the ministry has 4,000 empty places within its broader structure,” said Nikos Hasomeris, the head of the union representing the Culture Ministry’s temporary staff, Kathimerini reported. He said the protesters want the ministry to cancel the dismissal of those employees and to pay the people who did not receive their salaries for up to 22 months.
“The authorities must accept their responsibilities,” he said, the BBC reported.
According to a local newspaper, hundreds of tourists climbed a slope on Philopappou Hill to get a view of the Acropolis. Tourists were given pamphlets in English from the protestors explaining their actions.
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