The Federation of European Train Drivers' Unions (ALE) has sent a formal letter to the European Union’s Transport and Employment Committees, as well as to Greece’s Ministry of Transport, Hellenic Train, and its parent company FS, strongly criticising the dismissal of Kostas Genidounias by Hellenic Train. Signed by ALE President Juan Jesús García Fraile, the letter refers to the 2023 Tempe train disaster, which claimed the lives of 57 people, including 11 railway workers, and left many more injured. The tragedy brought to light the deeply troubling state of rail safety in Greece and led to the creation of an independent body tasked with investigating railway accidents.

The Federation of European Train Drivers’ Unions denounces a serious incident in the Greek rail sector

“In 2023, the ‘Tempi Accident’ occurred, resulting in the deaths of 57 people (11 railway workers) and affecting dozens of passengers. This tragedy brought to light the critical state of railway safety in the country and led to the creation of a railway accident investigation body.

“With the European Commission and the European Union Agency for Railways ERA (among other institutions and bodies) closely monitoring the situation, the Greek Train Drivers’ Union (P.E.P.E.) has done an exceptional job, providing reports, sharing expertise, developing activities and professional background to support efforts aimed to improving railway safety.

Konstantinos Genidounias, President of P.E.P.E. at the time, was one of the most relevant persons, serving as a critical witness to the accident and leading a Greek movement aimed to ensuring a proper investigation, uncovering the causes towards transparency and safety enhancing, even participating in sessions of the European Parliament Transport Committee.

Prior to the tragic Tempi accident, Konstantinos Genidounias had also spearheaded the efforts of Greek railway workers to repeatedly alert the leadership of the Hellenic Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, regarding the serious deficiencies and safety gaps.

Alarmingly, at a pivotal moment when the Tempi case is reaching its conclusion, Hellenic Train S.A. (the railway company in Greece) has dismissed Konstantinos Genidounias, on the very same day that the case file was submitted to the Greek Parliament and coinciding with his candidacy for the re-election as President of the Train Drivers’ union P.E.P.E.

Without any formal reason and, apparently, as political retaliation against a Train Drivers´ representative, Kostas Genidounias has become a martyr of a system that exposed the severe shortcomings of railway safety in the country, which still clearly fails to protect passengers and workers.

We call your attention to this case, requesting your intervention and support in resolving a situation that could severely impact the ongoing investigation of the Tempi accident.

It also serves as a dangerous reference for other Member States, establishing an unacceptable basis for future situations where the fear of retaliation against workers will result in inadequate safety and protection systems, for both the workers themselves, passengers and goods of the European rail system.”

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