A Real Game-changer?

[Ephilant]

in 2010, the Greek public sector Trade Unions took a case to the Social Rights Committee of the Council of Europe.
Their case was a complaint against Troika demand to prolong the "trial period" for new "measures" which made it possible for an employer to fire a employee with less than 1 year service without notice, and cut the minimum wage for workers under the age of 25 to 2/3 of the national minimum wage.

A (non-binding) ruling came back this morning, supporting the Trade Unions in their opposition. The Committee states that:

the longer trial period ran counter to a clause in the Charter of Social Rights which said workers were entitled to “reasonable” notice before their employment was terminated and that the lower wage meant young Greek workers had fallen below the poverty line of 580 euros a month.

Luis Jimena Quesada, the committee’s president stated:

This ruling establishes the illegality of the measures concerned which can be invoked in the national jurisdictions. Budgetary readjustments necessitated by the global economic crisis should not lead to an erosion of workers’ rights enshrined in the European Social Charter.

While the committee lacks the power to enforce it's ruling, it will put the ruling to the Council of Europe to give it legal footing within the 49 member states of the council.
The ruling does form a serious basis for legal and remedial action in the courts in Greece (and anywhere else in Europe), which is the route now taken by the Trade Unions. This could prove to be highly embarrassing for both the Greek government and the Troika, who have obviously been wiping their feet on the European Social Charter in more than one way. I am thinking, amongst other things, about the arbitrary cuts in social welfare payments, based on age. I've always wondered are you less unemployed when under the age of 25, or is life less expensive for those under the age of 25? Or is this just another case of trashing the rights of a particular group in society in the name of "budgetary adjustments"?

[fluffybiscuits]

What is it with these discriminatory measures against young people and denying them an existence? The same applies here to anyone under the age of 25 who lives at home with their parents, they dont get full benefits. Its thrashing the rights of a young cross section of society. Its ageism in the extreme....

[Captain Con O'Sullivan]

There will now be from Fine Gael mouthpieces an attempt to reinvent the context in which Angela Merkel has specifically said there will be no bailout on legacy debt.

Enda will avoid questions for a day or two or make a statement about 'undue negativity' or some such horseshyte or some other distraction for the bought media to seize on as a distraction.The next debt payments will be made even though the obvious thing to do is stop all payments until a deal is on the table.

Either Ireland has the worst and most ineffective political negotiators in the world or they are lying to the nation about even attempting to negotiate. I think it is the latter. No-one hands away their trump cards in the hope that their negotiating opponent will decide that he 'likes' you enough to offer you a great deal. If Kenny and co back as far as Cowen think that one negotiates by turning up with a shiny face and concessions then the country's leadership is remedial.

[Slim Buddha]

There will now be from Fine Gael mouthpieces an attempt to reinvent the context in which Angela Merkel has specifically said there will be no bailout on legacy debt.

Enda will avoid questions for a day or two or make a statement about 'undue negativity' or some such horseshyte or some other distraction for the bought media to seize on as a distraction.The next debt payments will be made even though the obvious thing to do is stop all payments until a deal is on the table.

Either Ireland has the worst and most ineffective political negotiators in the world or they are lying to the nation about even attempting to negotiate. I think it is the latter. No-one hands away their trump cards in the hope that their negotiating opponent will decide that he 'likes' you enough to offer you a great deal. If Kenny and co back as far as Cowen think that one negotiates by turning up with a shiny face and concessions then the country's leadership is remedial.

It is remedial. No question. No visible intelligence at work anywhere in Irish politics.

Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have absolutely no idea how to negotiate anything. The talent to do so simply does not exist there. Horse trading about pork in hotel rooms is a far cry from dealing with political heavyweights from elsewhere in Europe.

It is truly embarrassing.

[Captain Con O'Sullivan]

I can't believe they are that stupid so the only answer otherwise is that they are singing to a different hymnsheet than the one they were elected to sing from. I'm left wondering whether the Troika are comfortable enough with any Irish establishment party because there isn't the depth of knowledge or technical ability to appoint a technocrat government. And the Troika know that the Irish politician is easy to manage. The odd picture in Europe's Time magazine .... the hint of appointments out of the country when the anger level gets too high...

It is a satrapy.