Staikouras on LARCO: “We have a complete plan” – Workers respond with strike

At the beginning of next week, the plans for the two tenders for LARCO will probably be completed, so that individuals can have the data in their hands and submit binding offers in mid-March, as announced by the Minister of Finance, Christos Staikouras.

Speaking on ERT radio’s First Program, Mr. Staikouras reminded that LARCO has outstanding debts of 500 million euros. In addition, the European Court of Justice ruled in favor of a flat-rate fine of € 5.5 million and an additional fine of € 4.368 million per semester for as long as the infringement continues.

“We have been trying for 2.5 years to privatize it and we are close to ending this process,” said Mr. Staikouras, expressing the hope that there will be an interest of an individual, although as he said this is not a given. “In this effort we have as a project to help and ensure the viability of LARCO and to cover employees and that is why we have developed a comprehensive plan to help all employees regardless of the situation they will be on the day after,” he stressed.

Attack on the opposition

The finance minister accused the opposition parties of “essentially hoodwinking the workers” with easy promises. “I heard the official opposition shed crocodile tears and, in fact, Mr. Tsakalotos’s letter in 2019 to the Commission spoke of privatization. I heard the new president of KINAL talk about a consolidation plan without explaining what it is,” he said characteristically.

Workers strike and march in Athens

“Hands off LARCO” shouted hundreds of workers who blocked the Ministry of Finance at noon, escalating their struggle against the government’s plans to privatize the company, with dismissals and removal of those living in the company’s settlement. They arrived by bus from the villages around the factory of Larymna, from the mines in Psachna, Evia and Agios Ioannis, Boeotia.

LARCO employees gave a press conference outside the Ministry of Finance, followed by a meeting with the leadership of the ministry.

“We came here because we want our jobs, we want our homes, we want to live in our villages, we want to raise our children with dignity. And we will succeed,” underlined the president of the LARCO workers’ union, Panagiotis Politis. He announced their next step on Sunday, February 13, at 10.30 in the morning, with the holding of a broad meeting that has taken on the characteristics of a rally at the Larymna factory “where we have most of the dead”, where their next mobilizations will be decided.