8 universities shut due to mobility scheme dispute

Eight universities from which more than 1,300 administrative staff will be moved into the public sector mobility program are now closed due to protests by the remaining employees. There is no sign of a compromise between the universities and the government as Greece strives to meet the troika’s target of putting a total of 12,500 civil servants into the scheme by the end of the month. According to data collected by Kathimerini, universities have a total of 6,171 administrative staff, most of whom were hired on rolling contracts that were made permanent by the government of Costas Karamanlis between 2004 and 2009. Among the universities that are closed is National Technical University of Athens. The NTUA will lose 399 staff, leaving some departments with just a few people. For instance, the transfers will lead to just two security guards remaining at the institution. Source: Education News