Angry that their pay is going to be cut as part of new austerity measures, Greek judges – who have been performing only minimal work since Sept. 17 so as not to violate laws forbidding them to strike – said if the government persists that they will ensure that Members of Parliament take pay cuts and be taxed on additional benefits.
The judges, along with other civil servants, are in line with another round of pay cuts, and more pension benefits and tax hikes are also coming to further cut into purchasing power. Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said his uneasy coalition government has no choice but to implement more austerity measures on the orders of international lenders.
But MP’s have largely been living above the fray and beside an average 5,934 euros per month, or $7.777 salary, a high-ranking judge told the newspaper Kathimerini that the lawmakers also receive from 150-350 euros, or $195-$456 every time they attend a committee meeting, or just sign in and leave without staying.
The judicial source also suggested that judges would seek to ensure that MPs are taxed for the benefits they receive, which include 935 euros ($1,219) a month for offices expenses for which they don’t have to account; 1,136 euros ($1,481) for postal services and 364 euros ($474) for travel costs. Judges are due to end their protest, which means they only work during the morning hours, on Oct. 20.
The judges are argued that cuts to their salaries are unconstitutional and demanded the creation of offices inside court buildings, complaining that they have been obliged to work from home due to a lack of the necessary space and infrastructure at the country’s court complexes.
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