A militant protest of Hotel Employees of Heraklion Crete took place on Wednesday 28 June, outside hotel in Malia, where a few days ago a 22-year-old apprentice cook was seriously injured by hot oil, while working uninsured.

Specifically, the 22-year-old was working as a cook’s assistant in a 4-star hotel unit in the area of Malia from June 10 until the afternoon of Tuesday, June 20, when the accident occurred with the young man suffering second degree burns. The worker was carrying a pot of hot oil when it got out of his hand and fell to the ground, injuring his hands and feet.

With the Hotel’s employer not calling an ambulance, as was reported, but trying to hide the incident, since the employer had not insured the worker, only called the hotel doctor, who only applied some ointments. The injured man’s mother had to travel from a village in Lasithi in order to take him to the hospital, resulting in about 3 agonizing hours for the worker until he received the necessary medical treatment.

The employer still today denies the incident and that the worker was working at the hotel. The hotel manager defiantly refused to come and meet the worker, or the Hotel Employees Union.

As the unionists noted “they are not going to get rid of us easily, if necessary we will be here every day. Until the colleague is vindicated and specifically we demand:

to investigate the causes and circumstances of the industrial accident

The employer to bear all medical expenses of the worker

That the employer pay the employee’s regular wages and sick pay for the time he is off work

Extraordinary inspection by the labour inspectorate for worker protection and safety measures

The worker and the family thanked for the support and solidarity they felt and said that they had gained strength to continue the struggle until final vindication.