Some 400 public sector cleaning employees were suspended in September 2013, as part of the availability measures implemented by the government, and were dismissed nine months later. The Greek Supreme Court has postponed the hearing of the cleaning staff’s case for October 13. Therefore, the reinstatement of cleaning employees has been suspended until then. However, the cleaning staff’s lawyer is arguing that Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis and the Deputy Minister of Administrative Reform Giorgos Katrougalos have both promised that the issue would be resolved by the new Greek government. In fact they had stated that the cleaning staff dismissal case would be one of the government’s first priorities and that they would take the necessary measures to put an end to the injustice. This means that the government might seek a loophole so that the dismissed cleaning employees will be able to return to work. If not, the case will remain on the shelf until October 13, forcing the government to go back on its promises to Greek people. Meanwhile, the cleaning staff has decided to stop spending their nights in tents outside the Greek Finance Ministry after several months of protesting. The decision was made by the cleaning ladies’ assembly on Tuesday, February 24. In fact, the assembly majority decided to keep the tents and chairs outside the ministry, until the problem is resolved, while a group will always be present there every day for a few hours in order to continue supporting their cause.
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