Seasonal Firefighters Rally in Greece for Permanent Roles
In Athens, Greece, a large group of seasonal firefighters gathered outside the Civil Protection Ministry on Thursday to advocate for permanent employment positions as their temporary contracts came to an end after a challenging wildfire season. The demonstration was marked by the presence of around 2,500 firefighters who donned their distinctive tan and red uniforms, using whistles and aerosol horns while displaying Greek flags.
As their contracts expired, these firefighters face a gap in employment until potential re-hiring next May. Union representatives have voiced concerns that climate change has led to a prolonged fire risk in Greece that extends beyond the conventional summer months, highlighting the urgent need for a constant firefighting workforce. Reports indicate that the 2023 fire season has resulted in approximately 1,747 square kilometers (or 675 square miles) being scorched, which is over four times greater than the average annual damage observed in the past decade, according to data from the European Union’s wildfire monitoring service.
The destruction this year has been substantial, with around 410 square kilometers (158 square miles) affected, including a significant fire that approached the outskirts of Athens. Commenting on the situation, Evangelos Tsoukalas, the head of the Seasonal Firefighters’ Association of Greece, stated that many experienced firefighters—those with six or more years of service—were restricted from applying for openings in specialized firefighting units due to an age limit set at 35 years.
Tsoukalas pointed out, “There is an age cut-off for those positions. And now our contracts are up, so we are being thrown out as seasonal firefighters.” While the typical season for these firefighters runs from May through October, union officials emphasize that their experience is crucial, especially in light of Greece’s increasingly severe fire seasons.
As of now, there has been no official response from the government regarding the firefighters’ calls for year-round job security. Greece is currently working on enhancing its firefighting strategies to confront the realities of longer and more severe fire seasons. Notably, this past June and July were recorded as the hottest months in Greece’s history, as reported by preliminary data from the National Observatory of Athens weather service.