The Panhellenic Seamens Union (PNO) and the minister exchanged bards December 7 when the stoppage was extended for a third time as seafarers protest the pending abolition of their long standing special tax status and other planned changes to labour and insurance rights, pensions and retirement ages.

Shipping minister Kouroumblis denounced the action. December 6 he called on the PNO, to return to the negotiating table after discussions between he and the PNO leadership ended in deadlock the previous day when seafarers marched on the Piraeus-waterfront ministry.

The PNO immediately called a fresh 48-hour strike. Greece's islands have been cut off from the mainland for a full week inflicting a major blow to local economies while activity in ports around the country is at a virtual standstill. Port pilot services and bunker supplying have been interrupted around the country.

Seafarers reject assurances by Kouroumblis that their concerns will be addressed. "This strike does not make any sense," Kouroumblis told the media. "I am seeking dialogue with PNO over the strike. We are fighting so that nothing changes in the tax regime."

Seafarers are not convinced. In an open letter to Kouroumblis, December 6, the PNO accused the minister of delivering "pretentious personal assurance seafarers tax status will not change". The PNO leadership said the minister "not only failed to offer any assurances, but he admitted the final decision is in the hands of the troika" [Greece's creditors]. It also accused the minister of keeping silent or overlooking all the other major complaints of seafarers, including the need for a new collective bargaining agreement, the abolishment of the Seamens Pension Fund and the establishment of a standby emergency vessel to be used should a strike go beyond 48-hours. The PNO reminded Kouroumplis that his party, Syriza, and he personally, had voted against all those changes when in opposition in 2014.

December 8 Kouroumplis sent an open letter to the PNO secretary general John
Halas, once again denying any intention by the ministry "to increase tax or change the current tax status of the Greek seafarers."
He suggested a meeting with the Social Security minister for December 15.

A change to the seafarers tax status is being dictated by Greece's creditors, the so-called 'troika' comprising the European Commission, European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund. The EC, ECB and IMF demand various changes to taxation legislation, as part of the changes Greece has to implement in order to receive further financial support.

Seafarers are convinced the tax exemptions which amount to €180m a year and currently costs the state €91.2m a year, will either be diluted or abolished altogether. The PNO says the draft law proposes abolition of the special regime for taxation in accordance with the provisions of Law 4387/2016, claiming "seafarers' taxable income will go up to a rate of 45%; even more if the special solidarity levy is added". "The seafarers profession is being led on the path to complete extinction," says the PNO.

© Shippax / David Glass