ERT’s workers denounce the illegality of the transition entity

ERT’s workers strongly object to the signal transmission of the Hellenic Public Broadcasting through ERT’s frequencies.

Journalists and the Federation of Hellenic Broadcasting Unions state that « for Samara’s government, it seems that there is no other way other than that of illegality. They abolished the Constitution trying to shut down ERT. Today they became cheap tv-pirates by presenting illegally, through public frequencies, the Hellenic Public Broadcasting. »

They also emphasize that the Ministry of Finance has not posted a notification for tendering procedures, nor is there a published contract on the website Diavgeia.gov.gr where all actions of the public sector are posted.

The government proceeded in a signal transmission

Since 8am, the « Hellenic Public Broadcasting » broadcasts through ERT’s frequencies. For the time being, there is only a card with the channel’s trademark.

The Government Spokesperson, mr Simos Kedikoglou, in a program of Antenna’s private channel, stated this morning: « The broadcast had to occur. What you see is a transition program which implements the ruling of the Council of State. The government Bill about the new entity has already been submitted and within 3 months I believe the regular broadcast of the new public entity will begin. »

Mr Pantelis Kapsis, deputy minister of the public broadcasting, mentioned through another private channel, Mega tv, that the program will initially include movies and documentaries while the viewer will be informed about current events via crawl. According to Mr Kapsis, there is still an open dialogue with ERT’s former workers.

According to information about the signal transmission of the Hellenic Public Broadcasting, a private studio is used.

Mr Kapsis added that there will soon be a notice for vacancies for the news bulletin and the enrichment of the program.

The opposing parties reject the transition entity

The Coalition of the Radical Left qualifies as “pirate” the signal transmission of the Hellenic Public Television, expressing that “it is the culmination of last weeks government’s illegalities”.

Mr Pantelis Ikonomou, former minister of PASOK, appearing in the journalists’ strike program of cyber ERT, declared that a political change will shortly occur and that ERT will return on screen.

The Communist Party qualifies as inadmissible the government’s move to broadcast the program of the so-called “transition entity” of the state tv from a private studio. They demand that ERT broadcasts again, that no worker is fired and that there is an assurance of the workers’ rights.

Any broadcast outside of ERT is illegal

In a General Assembly the majority of the journalists adopted yesterday a resolution which condemns every effort of illegal broadcast outside the central and peripheral facilities of ERT.

They protest and object to any of Kapsis’ proposals that violently overthrow the labour relations, despite the documented proposals they have submitted.

They invite mr Kapsis to execute what he has publicly declared, that « ERT’s workers are part of the solution » so that the signal of the Public Radio-Television is transmitted ONLY through ERT’s facilities and frequencies, respecting the ruling of the Council of State.

EBU in Athens again for ERT

A delegation of EBU will come to Greece on the 17th of July in order to discuss the developments concerning the Public Radio-Television. They will meet with mr Pantelis Kapsis, the deputy minister of public broadcasting and Mr Gikas Manalis, manager and liquidator of ERT SA.

Parliament’s committee approved the bill for the new television entity

Yesterday, the government bill about NERIT, the new Hellenic Public Radio-Television, was approved by the two government parties.

The deputy minister of public broadcasting expressed to the representatives of ERT’s workers that there will be a provision to employ in the transition entity candidates that have worked in ERT during the last 2 or 3 years, including the Music Ensembles.

The president of the National Radio and Television Board, Mr Ioannis Laskaridis, mentioned that no one from that authority was asked and therefore no one expressed an opinion about the government bill for the creation of NERIT, the new Hellenic Public Radio-Television.

New general strike on the 16th of July

The General Confederation of Greek Workers and the Civil Servants Supreme Administrative Council announced a 24hour strike for the government’s multi-bill which inserts provisions about the abolition of vacancies in the Public sector.

The multi-bill, with troika’s prerequisites about the disbursement of the next instalment, was submitted yesterday in Parliament.

It includes provisions about the mobility in the Public sector, the specification of the minimum wage, the creation of a Centre for tax collecting and measures for the Hellenic National Organization for Health Care Provision.