‘Vodafone management calls colleagues to numerous individual meetings and blackmails them either into accepting the terms by signing a resignation, or tells them that they will be dismissed in the immediate future. Under this crude blackmail and intimidation, it extracts resignations,’ the union said.
In a previous announcement, the Panhellenic Vodafone-Panafon Employees Union said Vodafone chief executive Achilleas Kanaris had informed staff of changes within the company and of a ‘voluntary’ exit programme through a simple announcement sent to employees’ corporate email accounts.
‘In the hours that followed, staff from the Human Resources Department contacted a large number of employees from the Information Technology Department, as well as from units in the commercial divisions (EBU and VBU),’ the union said. ‘These communications effectively announced the abolition of posts and the dismissal of employees. Our colleagues were blackmailed into signing resignations in exchange for a few additional months of pay or approximately double their statutory compensation.’
A few weeks ago, the number of dismissed employees had already exceeded 100.
In a new announcement, the union says the number has now passed 300 and is still rising. It argues that the real total is even higher, as Vodafone management is attempting to circumvent legislation on collective redundancies by presenting the process as a ‘voluntary’ exit scheme.
According to the union, management is implementing the scheme by calling workers into repeated one-to-one meetings and pressuring them either to sign a resignation or face dismissal in the near future. ‘Under this crude blackmail and intimidation, it extracts resignations,’ it said.
Workers say they will not ‘fatalistically accept our sacrifice and the deterioration of labour relations through forms of further intensification and “flexible” hours, which the company seeks to impose’. They also warn colleagues that management appears to be preparing further harmful changes to working hours across teams and departments.
The union is calling on workers and the wider labour movement ‘to fight back and stand in solidarity against employers’ irresponsibility, layoffs, work intensification, the attack on trade unions, the freezing of wages and the refusal of collective bargaining’.
George Tseregounis, vice-president of the Vodafone Employees’ Union, also discussed the issue on The Press Project’s programme Animal Farm.
The union’s full statement
‘Vodafone is dismissing at least 300 employees through blackmail.
‘In our previous press release of 26 February 2026, we publicised and denounced the mass and extensive layoffs at Vodafone Greece. The layoffs have now exceeded 300 and continue.
‘We point out that Vodafone management, in order to circumvent legislation on collective redundancies, presented a “voluntary” exit programme. It implements this by calling colleagues to numerous individual meetings and blackmailing them either into accepting the terms by signing a resignation, or by stating that they will be dismissed in the immediate future. Under this crude blackmail and intimidation, it extracts resignations.
‘It has now extended this persecution beyond employees with stable employment relationships to colleagues who cover permanent needs while working through contracting companies.
‘It is outrageous that, in the anti-worker pogrom unleashed by management, it is also approaching colleagues facing serious health problems and showing them the door, namely unemployment.
‘We note that Vodafone Greece has been advertising itself as a “Top Employer” in recent months, while a significant part of its revenues rose substantially in 2024–2025, with a considerable share attributable to its participation in public sector digitisation projects, digital upgrades and projects financed by European funds, including the NSRF and the Recovery Fund.
‘It is particularly provocative that one of the country’s largest multinational telecommunications companies, heavily funded through state and government programmes, is able, with the silent tolerance of the government and institutions, to proceed with such practices towards employees and labour relations.
‘We, the employees, will not accept our sacrifice and the deterioration of labour relations through forms of further intensification and “flexible” hours, which the company seeks to impose. We warn all colleagues that management is apparently preparing to introduce other harmful changes affecting working groups and departments.
‘We have already held a work stoppage on 26 February. Today, 4 March, we held local information meetings in Petralona and Chalandri in order to discuss further immediate action. We call on colleagues to support the union and to take part in the next General Assembly, which will be announced, so that we can determine our position.
‘We call on colleagues and every worker to fight back and stand in solidarity against employers’ irresponsibility, layoffs, work intensification, the attack on trade unions, the freezing of wages and the refusal of collective bargaining.
‘We do not accept layoffs – no job should be lost.
We do not accept harmful changes.
We immediately inform the union of attacks by management executives – no colleague should be left alone in discussions involving blackmail.
Increase stand-by compensation to €200 net per week without any change to working hours.
Collective labour agreements with substantial increases and stronger labour and trade union rights.’
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