Disclosure: Dozens of station masters missing from metro lines 1, 2 and 3

STASY’s train drivers: “We pass red traffic lights to the airport”

The incredible incident on February 16 with a dead person on the Metro lines that was detected after 8-10 trains had passed.

Where did the investigation lead us:

• OS for the signaling by the train drivers of STASY: “We run through red traffic lights in the area of Kantza, of the Line D. Plakentia – Airport”

• Complaints of Metro employees that they work without rest and without rest permits

• Warnings for understaffing in station masters

• “Only fancy events, red carpets, and fiestas for stations inauguration, while at the same time behind the polished granites, the staff suffocates without a day off, working at least 27 days a month, without days off and without logistical infrastructure.”

• The questions of Data Journalists to the management of STASY and the issues of route quality and safety that are raised by employees who declare themselves exhausted

• The incident with the dead man on February 16 in Alimos Metro – An elderly man entered the tunnel through a security door without being noticed – According to information from workers “8-10 trains had already passed over him, without anyone noticing anything” – Investigation by the local police station

• Two direct assignments from August, totaling 49,500 euros plus VAT, to promote the… work of STASY on Instagram and to block posts on… Facebook – Instead of hiring auditors to raise revenue, it hunts down malicious groups on… social media

• The former deputy CEO of the Hellenic Railways Organization (OSE) is the new CEO of STASY

by Vassilis Galoupis

The tragedy at Tempi proves that all the competent bodies, authorities, and services had been warned in time, even by extrajudicial bailiffs, of serious security deficiencies. Last Tuesday’s fatal accident has now raised the alarm for all modes of transport, which obviously go under the microscope.

Every citizen has the right to be safe when traveling either within the urban fabric or on longer journeys. The commentaries in recent days have multiplied and are no longer limited to the Greek railway.

In the first phase, Data Journalists focus on STASY, while gradually there will be similar research for the other means of transport.

Who is STASY

The “Athens Urban Rail Transport SA (STASY SA)” is a public company for the development and operation of Lines 1, 2, and 3 and the Tram in the Attica Basin. It was established by Law 3920/2011 as the renaming of Metro of Attica in the context of “the general consolidation of the public sector and the restructuring of urban transport”.

Since June 2022, the CEO of the company has been the economist, Athanasios Kottaras, after consultation with the Hellenic Corporation of Assets and Participations (HCAP). Among the other positions of responsibility undertaken by Mr. Kottaras, is that of the deputy CEO of the Hellenic Railways Organization (OSE) since June 2020.

The president of STASY is Charalambos Damaskos.

Complaints of Metro workers: We work without rest, without days off

In recent days, and after the Tempi accident, the media’s interest has turned to the warnings of the labor unions and executives who resigned from the Greek railways. By February they were expressing their fears of a tragedy by pointing out the issues.

Today we focus on announcements of the labor unions of STASY, having asked for the position of the company for what they complain.

On 24.2.23, the Athens Metro Employees’ Union issued a statement according to which:

• The statutory organization chart from 2021 of STASY provides as number of Employees (3,127) without including the organic positions of the three new Metro stations that opened in 2022. At the moment, in February 2023, the number of permanent employees working in the company is around 2,280, which means that we are minus 847 from the previously voted organization chart and 3 new stations have been added.”
• “The company can serve today, in real-time, the passengers, only with overtime shifts, by having a large number of employees work on their days off without rest, without having any rest days and any other kind of leave.”
• “Gentlemen, we are sounding the alarm that STASY is in danger in the near future, provided the above-mentioned resignations take place. Passengers will soon not be able to be served due to a lack of staff. We would like to inform you that passengers will suffer with fewer trains at the disposal of the urban railway.”

Metro workers complain of understaffing, that they are exhausted after doing overtime, do not rest adequately, and do not take the required rest days. As long as this is the case, not only issues of efficiency and quality of services are raised, but, of course, also of safety. No matter how conscientious an employee is, when working at the edge of exhaustion they are more prone to mistakes, critical or not.

Contacting first the CEO’s office and then STASY’s Communication Office, Data Journalists asked two specific questions to the company and are waiting for their answers. Our questions were:

• In an announcement on 24.2.23, the “Athens Metro Employees’ Union” states that “at the moment February 2023 the employees are about 2,280 and we are minus 847 from the previous voted organizational chart of STASY, while 3 stations were added”.  According to them, “the statutory organization chart of 2021 of STASY provides as the number of employees 3,127”. Are the data mentioned in the union’s announcement valid?
• Elsewhere in their recent announcement, it is noted that “The company can serve today, in real-time, the passengers, only with overtime shifts, by having a large number of employees work on their days off without rest, without having any rest days and any other kind of leave.” Is it true that over time has been increased and staff rest (holidays, days off) limited? What was the average number of days off in 2022 compared to previous years?

“33 station masters are not enough, the deficiencies are huge.” 

Also in February (17.2.23), another union of workers, that of the “Train drivers and other Traffic Workers STASY” raises the issue of the lack of station masters. The announcement of January 27th was preceded by the filling of 38 seats, of which 33 were station masters.

The employees address the management of STASY and ask for this critical position: “Are the required station masters to fill the gaps in Lines 1, 2, and 3 only 33?

Apparently, the minds that designed and promoted this call believe that the employees of STASY lack basic intelligence and will find this number satisfactory? Or, because the shortcomings are enormous, will they remain silent on the basis of the lesser of two evils?”

The question posed in writing to the management of STASY by Data Journalists, waiting for the company’s answer, was:

“In the announcement of the Association of train drivers and other traffic workers of STASY, on 17.2.23 there is a reference to an understaffing of station masters on the occasion of a relevant notice. They dispute, in their announcement, that the station masters required to fill the gaps of lines 1, 2, and 3 are only 33. According to STASY, will the number of 33 station masters mentioned in the notice fully cover the needs?”.

“Εxhausted Personnel” 

On February 28, 2023, a few hours before the accident in Tempi, the Train Drivers’ Union of STASY and the Workers’ Union of the Operation Control Center of the Athens Metro issued a statement in which, among other things, they state:

• “We denounce the continued devaluation of the company through the deforestation of its workforce, resulting in the network’s key specialties bleeding to the point of draining any honorable effort to make the carrier work.”
• “Exposure to the pandemic crisis found the staff exhausted by the excessive effort to cope with the unbearable hours that completely exhaust the worker.”
• “Recruitments that have already been made, as well as those that have been announced, are a drop in the ocean.”
• “Only fancy events, red carpets, and fiestas for stations inauguration, while at the same time behind the polished granites, the staff suffocates without a day off, working at least 27 days a month, without rest and without logistical infrastructure.”

SOS for signaling in Kantza 

On March 2, 2023, immediately after the accident in Tempi, the Association of Train Drivers of STASY sends a letter, registered, to Mr. Kottaras for the long-term absence of a signaling system in the area of Kantza, of the Line D. Plakentia – Airport.

The employees point out the following extremely worrying safety issues:

“On the occasion of the events in Tempi, we would like to remind you of the signaling problem in the Kantza area. The traffic lights are switched off, that is, the entrance and exit of the station “Kantza”, with the neighboring light signals of the suburban railway stations, Pallini, Koropi, which we are forced to pass even though they are red”.

The incident with the dead man on February 16

An unusual incident occurred on February 16 at Alimos Metro Station. According to employees with knowledge of the incident, an elderly man opened the security door leading to the tunnel, without being noticed by anyone.

After an hour, he was found dead in the tunnel and according to information, “8-10 trains had already passed over him, without anyone noticing anything.” It was detected only after some time by a driver of the opposite train who managed to see that a man was lying on the tracks.

Quite a few questions arise. It was not immediately clear if the man intended to commit suicide or if he had a disease such as dementia and was accidentally found in the tunnel. A second question has to do with the fact that he opened a door, with safeguards and warnings, without anyone noticing.

This incident is being investigated by the local police department.

 

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Direct assignments for the promotion of STASY’s work on… Instagram and Blocking Facebook Posts 

At STASY there may not be money for hiring station masters and controllers, but there is enough money for direct assignments for nothing.

On August 26, 2022, the management of STASY decides to give 29,500 euros, plus VAT, to the company Narrative, based in Maroussi.

As posted in Diavgeia, the assignment was made “for the provision of consulting services on communication issues for the promotion of the work and activity of STASY”. The contract is for 6 months and is signed by Mr. Kottaras.

According to the accepted offer, Narrative will provide services including “content production and management for social media”, while the contractor undertakes to support the textual needs of the Press Office or the Corporate Communication Department of STASY. It will also deal with the… Instagram

Another rather incomprehensible action followed. On 23.1.23 STASY specifically calls on the company NEKYA, based in Kolonaki, to “submit a bid for services to combat malicious groups”.

The cost was set at 20,000 euros, plus VAT.

According to NEKYA’s financial offer, the issue was “providing services to STASY with the aim of combating malicious groups that hinder its smooth operation on Facebook”.

The company promises to take action “to identify the groups that inform their members about the checks of metro and tram tickets”.

The effectiveness of such action is doubtful anyway since on Facebook new groups that act in this unacceptable way are constantly springing up.

However, instead of spending its money on such, rather ineffective methods, STASY could simply hire more auditors, since, as the employees themselves complain, this service has been deforested, with the result that the state loses revenue every day.

Finally, the deal with NEKYA was closed with a post in Diavgeia on 3.2.23 and the CEO’s signature.