Greek Government, civil service Union at loggerheads

Spokesman tells state workers to do their job; union leader says Constitution being undermined The civil servants' union leader, Spyros Papaspyrou, has suggested that employees at tax offices might stop collecting taxes after a certain hour every day A row between the government and the  civil servants’ union (ADEDY) escalated  on Friday after the union leader, Spyros  Papaspyrou, slammed government  spokesman Ilias Mosialos for suggesting  that civil servants striking over pay cuts  would face penalties. Papaspyrou indicated that Mosialos had  overstepped the mark by hinting at  sackings of civil servants - whose jobs are  protected by Greek law. “Has the  government decided that it will abolish  the Constitution before it has even reformed it?” Papaspyrou told the Real FM radio  station. Mosialos reacted to the union leader’s  comments by calling on civil servants to  focus on their jobs. “The chief duty of  every civil servant is to work for the common good,” Mosialos said, adding that “everyone has their  responsibilities and they will be judged by the general public.” Several other members of ruling PASOK, including Health Minister Andreas Loverdos, threw their support  behind Mosialos, indicating that a work-to-rule protest by civil servants - in the middle of such a critical  period for Greece - would be “unacceptable.” The dispute began on Thursday when, in an apparent attempt to head off a confrontation with civil servants,  Mosialos said that the government would take action if there is a go-slow protest. His comments came after Papaspyrou said that members would react to continuing salary and benefit cuts,  as well as the lengthening of their working week from 37.5 hours to 40. The union leader had suggested that employees at tax offices might stop collecting taxes after a certain hour  each day. Mosialos condemned this form of protest, saying it would be “to the detriment of the Greek people.” In a related development, as the crisis gripping the eurozone deepened, Prime Minister George Papandreou  called for European Union leaders to “immediately implement” their promises of support to Greece. In a letter to European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, Papandreou also echoed the concerns  of the EC official about widespread doubts in the markets. “Recent developments reflect a growing skepticism  about the systemic capacity of the euro area to respond to the ongoing crisis,” Papandreou wrote, adding that  “constant efforts and further institutional improvements are necessary if we are to remain ahead of  developments and not trailing them.” http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_05/08/2011_401347