Talks between seasonal firefighters in Greece and Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias failed this week days after a protest turned violent late last month.
One of the seasonal firefighters’ main demands was full-year employment, particularly in a country that is experiencing more and more fires year round.
During the meeting, the minister proposed 2,500 seasonal positions which concern six-month contracts for a period of three years, to be awarded based on a point system, and increasing the age limit for drivers to 50 and for those on the frontline to 40. Recruitment to the force for this position will also require physical fitness tests.
The minister did not discuss extending seasonal contracts, one of the firefighters’ key demands.
As a result, the firefighters attending the meeting rejected Kikilias’ proposals.
The contracts of approximately 2,500 seasonal firefighters ended last month. In the meantime, fires across Greece continued into November with the latest on Tuesday in the Strofylia forest, a nature reserve in the northwestern Peloponnese.
Seasonal firefighters will be hired again in May.
