ALARM SIGNAL FROM ANONYMOUS MOBILE CAMERA OPERATORS ''WE WRITE FOR FEAR OF LAYOFFS . . . ARE THEY WAITING FOR THE FIRST DEAD?" - Filenews 14/3
A cry of anguish is addressed by mobile camera operators, on the occasion of the latest incident of violence against their colleague. "This letter is written anonymously for fear of layoffs, but expresses the terror, misery and despair of dozens of workers who daily gamble their lives," they state, among other things.
The announcement is as follows
"To every competent person, to the Mass Media and to every Cypriot citizen,
On the occasion of the latest, extreme incident of violence against our colleague, the majority of the operators of the mobile photo-marking units decided to break our silence. The glass overflowed and the knot now reached the comb. This letter is written anonymously for fear of layoffs, but it expresses the terror, misery and despair of dozens of workers who daily gamble their lives.
We live and work in a state of absolute terror. The failure of the management company to protect us is now criminal. The system is designed wrong, with operators being placed as "bait" in dead, dark and remote places, without any substantial protection, while the state and the company refuse to clearly communicate to the public how and where the system actually works.
We are not saying all this now. There have been dozens of incidents that were buried or degraded:
• Molotov cocktails in Polemidia.
• Brutal beating of a colleague in Kivides.
• Shooting at vans.
• Daily threats against our lives, insults, bullying and damage.
And what is the company's response to this war? Absolute indifference. Their only meaning is the continuous and uninterrupted operation of the system. The supervisors impose inhumane conditions, with the sole purpose of getting the shift out and ensuring profit.
At the same time, the Ministry of Labour and the Department of Labour Inspection are deafeningly absent. Where is the state when operators are forced to work exhausting hours that exceed 220 to 240 hours per month? Constant driving, exhaustion, stress and secluded places make up a scene of death.
A clear message to the citizens:
The "war" of the politicians and the anger of the people over the fines is breaking out on the workers. But you should know this: We are mere messengers. We do not choose the points. Others decide where we go, what time we go and which streets we police. Don't hit the wage earners who are shivering inside the vans. Find the real ones responsible and those who pocket the "hot money" from the fines, sacrificing the safety of their employees.
If the company and the state do not comply IMMEDIATELY with the rules for the protection of human life, we warn you: In the near future we will mourn a dead fellow human being at work. It is not a matter of "if" it will happen, but "when".
This letter is made public as an open, public document for what happens from now on. No minister, no director and no company will be able to say tomorrow "we didn't know". Take action now, before the irreparable harm happens.
On behalf of the majority of terrified operators of mobile photo-tagging units.'
