WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1267/98 by Alexandros ALAVANOS to the Commission. Violation of fundamental rights of Olympic Airways' workers
Date: 1998-04-21
Institutions: ALAVANOS, European Parliament
Subjects: Community Charter of the Fundamental Social Rights of Workers, Greece, air transport, collective dismissal, labour law, labour relations, social legislation, workers' representation

21. 10. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 323/121

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-1259/98 and E-1519/98

(13/14 July 1998)

It  emerged  from  the  interinstitutional  discussions  mentioned  by  the  Honourable  Members  that  an  indirect
financing solution could be adopted.

Furthermore,  it  is  for  the  European  Parliament,  as  an  autonomous  administrative  body,  to  work  out,  in
compliance  with  the  Treaties  establishing  the  Communities,  in  particular  their  financial  provisions,  and  the
national  legislations  concerned,  the  solution  which  it  considers  most  appropriate  for  the  acquisition  of  its
buildings.

The Council has not been informed of the inquiry referred to in point 3 of Question E-1519/98.

(98/C 323/185)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1267/98

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(21 April 1998)

Subject: Violation of fundamental rights of Olympic Airways(cid:146) workers

The 1989  Social Charter of workers(cid:146)  fundamental social rights,  which forms part of the  EC Treaties, clearly
states in Article 18 that information, consultation and participation must be implemented in due time in cases
where workers are affected by the employment policy pursued by their employer.

Moreover, Article 2 of Directive 75/129/EEC (1), as amended, on collective redundancies states that (cid:145)where an
employer is contemplating collective redundancies, he shall begin consultation with the workers(cid:146) representatives
in  good  time(cid:146)  and  continues  in  Article  2(3)  with  (cid:145)To  enable  workers(cid:146)  representatives  to  make  constructive
proposals, the employers shall supply them with all relevant information, notify them in writing of the reasons
for the redundancies and of the number and categories to be made redundant(cid:146).

A draft law submitted unexpectedly to the Greek Parliament proposes radical changes affecting the fundamental
labour rights of Olympic Airways(cid:146) workers (such as collective redundancies), the provisions of which are not
even known to the management of the company.

Will the Commission examine to what extent this procedure and the substance of the draft law are consistent with
the letter and the spirit of the Social Charter of workers(cid:146) rights and the above-mentioned directive?

(1)  OJ L 48, 22.2.1975, p. 29.

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(26 May 1998)

It is only after national provisions have been adopted and duly notified to the Commission by the Member States
that the Commission may intervene, if there is reason to believe that Community law has been violated.

(98/C 323/186)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1268/98

by Katerina Daskalaki (UPE) to the Council

(21 April 1998)

Subject: Further acts of vandalism in Turkey

Another barbaric attack has been carried out on religious monuments in Istanbul. The target this time was the
Orthodox  Christian  cemetery  where  51 graves  were  desecrated.  This  was  preceded  by  the  attack  on  Ayios