Left Unity issued a statement denouncing the transfer, saying:

“We strongly condemn the retaliatory transfer, ordered on Tuesday, 20 May, of the porter of our school’s new building, Mr D.S. This decision, taken by the Rector, Mr G. Siasos, and the Vice-Rector for Administrative Affairs, Mr Karagiannis, clearly serves a particular agenda.”

The group goes on to explain that on Monday, 19 May, the university administration gave a verbal order to remove the handles from emergency exit doors spanning eight floors.

“Mr D.S. objected to this move, stressing that removing the handles raised serious safety concerns for the building and its students. Despite his firm objections, the administration went ahead, disregarding the voice of someone who has spent 20 years looking out for the wellbeing of Law School students and the building itself,” the statement continues.

Left Unity argues that the timing of the transfer is no coincidence:

“Mr D.S. has worked for two decades in Greece’s public university system, the majority of that time at the Athens Law School. He is someone whose first concern has always been the liveliness of our faculty, the service of students, and their safety. And now the administration is removing him precisely because he voiced concerns about decisions that compromise our safety and the safety of the building.”

The group also highlights that this is not the first time the university administration has taken punitive measures against employees.

“These tactics from the rectorate are nothing new. Last year, we also witnessed the retaliatory dismissal of administrative employee Dimitris Antoniou. It is unacceptable that every time an employee disagrees with the administration, they are punished, transferred, or sacked. We’ve had enough of this.”

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