Trade Union organizations declaring a strike at services, organisations and businesses mentioned under article 19, par. 2, L. 1264/1982, as supplemented by paragraphs 1 and 2, article 3, L. 1915/1990, prior to exercise the right to strike, shall invite the employer, with a document notified by court bailiff, to a public dialogue on the demands of the said organisation.
In particular, the following are considered vital for the satisfaction of basic needs of society:
The provision of healthcare services by healthcare institutions, in general.
Water purification and distribution.
Production and distribution of electricity or fuel gas.
Production and distribution of crude oil.
Transport of persons and goods by land, sea and air.
Telecommunications and post. Radio and Television.
Sewerage and removal of waste water and waste and garbage collection and deposition (As replaced by article 3, par. 1., L. 1915/90)
Loading, unloading and storage of merchandise at ports.
The Bank of Greece, the Air Force and any type of service or service unit involved solely in the settlement and payment of personnel salaries, under article 51, L. 1892/1990, for the public sector and public and private sector pensions. (Added to article 3, par. 2, L. 1915/90).
So, in the abovementioned sectors there is an obligation for the trade union party to invite the other party properly to a public dialogue in OMED.
In other enterprises/sectors, the trade union declaring the strike may request a public dialogue in accordance with the provisions of these articles before or during the strike.
The employer may also request a public dialogue, when the employer receives notification of the demands of the strike, or the declaration of a strike, or when the employer judges that labour peace in the enterprise may be disrupted.
The public dialogue shall not suspend the right to exercise the right to strike.
All procedural issues regarding the public dialogue, including the duration of the public dialogue, free choice of mediator and suspension of the right to strike, may be settles by agreement between the parties.
Public dialogue is being operated like mediation in OMED, with the support of a mediator chosen by the parties or by draw among the members of the Special Body of Mediators of OMED, the exact way the process take place in mediations.
Two differences to mediation process is the urgency of time in the case of public dialogue, with the mediator having to accept or reject the handle of the case in 24 hours. Another difference lies in the case of the non presence of at least one of the parties in the special meetings of choosing the mediator who will handle the public dialogue.
In such a case, the public dialogue is declared “barren” by the President of the OMED or his/her representative so the union is being able to strike having done the necessary to law procedures.
To submit a social dialogue application with its attachments, click here
To submit questions about anything concerning social dialogue in OMED, click here
