Athens, Monday 12th March 2012
Dear Colleagues,
The Hellenic Red Cross after having 134 years of continuous presence next to every human in need, always acting as auxiliary to State Authorities in adverse times that our country experienced through its course of history and most of all as a member of the largest humanitarian organisation worldwide, is, unfortunately, today on the brink of its collapse. The unparalleled indifference, insufficiency and bad managerial policies that the President and all members of the Central Board of the Hellenic Red Cross have displayed for the last decade, contributed to the Organisation’s current critical stage. Moreover, the financial crisis, that Greece is facing, has incommoded the Hellenic Red Cross more, to overcome any problems coming into view.
For over three years now and especially during the last one, 2011, the unprecedented inability of the Hellenic Red Cross to settle its financial obligations has become more than evident. Hellenic Red Cross employees’ salaries are not paid on a regular basis. During the summer period employees remained unpaid for five (5) months, while at the same time -along with the Central Boards’ absence- another inconvenience came off, since we had difficulty in disbursing part of the offset subsidy we receive from the competent Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity. At present, all employees remain unpaid for three (3) months facing a prospect -based on our finance department data- to stay on this situation for the next 4 to 5 months.
In meantime, the Hellenic Red Cross Employees Union has worn out all efforts required, with continuous interventions to all competent Ministries, the Treasury, even the Greek Parliament, without any active participation on behalf of the Hellenic Red Cross Central Board to these endeavours; and although the abovementioned ministerial issue seems to have been solved on one hand, on the other, the serious financial problems along with the uncertainty for the Hellenic Red Cross future are still pending. It is admirable, though, that despite the described adverse situation that our Organisation experiences, all Hellenic Red Cross employees having respect to the humanitarian Principles of the Movement and all special features and nature of the Organisation they serve, strive on a daily basis with every strength left in them, not to interrupt -not even to the minimum- Hellenic Red Cross’s services to the public.
In addition, even though, from time to time a lot of committees have been constituted under the Central Board’s order, with the purpose to draft proposals for the Organisation’s viability, these proposals were never implemented. Recently, however, another committee for this purpose has been constituted by members of the Central Board of the Hellenic Red Cross and drafted a viability plan for the Organisation to be in force until 2016; this plan, mainly refers to the need for an Organisation’s restructuring through a new capacity building of its actions and their visibility to the public, as well as the amendment of the Organisation’s statutes, which will facilitate the Hellenic Red Cross functioning and also reduce local branches expenses. We all expect the Central Board’s decision on the issues under concern, however, we are really worried that the abovementioned plan will not have a positive approval, since many of these changes/ proposals affect the existing practice that the Central Board follows, a policy all too convenient for them.
We are aware of the fact that we run out of time and must act immediately in order for the Hellenic Red Cross to be saved!
Therefore, we consider that your immediate actions are extremely important, so that the Hellenic Red Cross Central Board decides upon statutes amendment along with a drafting of an internal rule of procedure, which will lead to a direct approval and implementation of a viability plan for the Organisation.
Unfortunately, it is a matter of few months for the Hellenic Red Cross to come to its final collapse, if measures are not taken in time; otherwise a lot of our colleagues will lose their jobs and there will be an abrupt end to the humanitarian work and services provided by our Organisation to the Greek people and Republic.
With Compliments,
The Hellenic Red Cross Employees Union
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