Consumer Workers Union-GSEE: ‘Red card’ in Jumbo

Jumbo practices in relation to the Internal Rules of Procedure complains with an announcement of the Consumer Workers Union of GSEE.

Analytically, the announcement of the Hellenic Consumer Workers’ Union states that “companies are inextricably linked to the society in which they operate, therefore they must recognize their responsibility, primarily to society. Sample of the so-called” corporate social responsibility “is also how companies treat their employees and whether they show the necessary respect for the added value of their work, without forgetting that they are also consumers who will thus indirectly contribute to economic and social stability.

These principles seem to be forgotten by the company JUMBO, as shown by the Rules of Procedure of its staff drawn up unilaterally by it, in the absence of an operational trade union and recently ratified by the services of the Ministry of Labor. As it turns out, this Regulation takes advantage of the unfavorable landscape in labor law that has been consistently created in recent years, culminating in the “Hatzidaki” law (part of which has already been incorporated in the approved text) creating a working environment of extreme flexibility with, obvious, aim to increase profitability. This Regulation has introduced regulations that overturn the family planning of employees, increase the intensity of work, substantially change key terms such as place and time of employment, such as:

– The exclusive right of the company to determine the duration of the daily and weekly work, its start and end times, working hours, work system (ie work and Sundays / holidays, depending on the applicable legal framework), etc., while working time is considered exclusively that which provides real service, resulting in longer hours.

– The place of employment is left exclusively to the company, which can be designated by it anytime, anywhere in the Territory, for any period of time it wishes, without providing for examination of family, financial or social parameters of employees.

– The leisure permit is granted at the time and in the order to be decided by the company and not the employee

– A fine of up to 25% of the monthly salary or wage is imposed as a disciplinary penalty when e.g. the employee falls into the disciplinary offense of “rash during working hours” for the second time.

Finally, it is questionable how, while the Regulation has a draft date of 6-12-2021 (apparently to incorporate afterwards all the unfavorable changes of the “Hatzidaki” law), nevertheless it is said that it was ratified on 25-11-2021, a sign that the state, when it wants, moves fast!

That’s enough!

This is the only answer that can be given by the Union of Consumer Workers of Greece of GSEE, which has been struggling for more than a decade to support consumers against abusive business practices but also against companies that treat employees as helots!

Consumers are not banknotes that circulate profits of multinationals and maximize the accounts of big business to the detriment of employees. Consumers have principles – we have dignity – we have rules – we have an opinion.

We do not reward such practices and we do not remain inactive. “As of today, we are reviewing our position and demonstrating our opposition to the Jumbo company for its inappropriate behavior towards its employees and, consequently, towards Greek consumers.”