Employees at the Fokas Department store sue company over failure to give them seven months back pay. Thessaloniki, Greece.

Employees at the Fokas Department store sue company over failure to pay seven months of wages. Thessaloniki, Greece., a photo by Teacher Dude's BBQ on Flickr.

Employees at one of Greece's most well - known retail chains protestover unpaid wages

Employees at one of Greece's most well - known retail chains protest over unpaid wages, a photo by Teacher Dude's BBQ on Flickr.

Shop assistants at one of Greece's most well - known retail chains, Fokas protest over unpaid back pay outside Thessaloniki branch.

This is a silent epidemic that is threatening millions of Greek families with poverty as many unscrupulous employers exploit the crisis.

Full story here.

www.demotix.com/news/1585124/massive-increase-unpaid-wage...

Unpaid for three months - shop assistants in Fokas department storeprotest

Unpaid for three months - shop assistants in Fokas department store protest, a photo by Teacher Dude's BBQ on Flickr.

Employees at the Fokas department stores, one of the most well-known retail outlets in Greece taking part in a 24 hour strike over unpaid wages dating back to June.

In addition according to Union of Shop Workers, the company is in the process of replacing full time positions with part time ones paying just 200 Euros a month for a 20 hour week.

(200 euros a month is just enough to cover rent on a modest one room apartment in the poorest parts of Thessaloniki.)

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Greek trade unionists picket Fokas department store - Thessaloniki

Greek trade unionists picket Fokas department store - Thessaloniki, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Greek trade unionists organised a three hour blockade of Fokas department stores across the country in protest against job losses and pay cuts.

According to the the PAME trade union the Fokas chain is using the crisis in Greek retailing to push down wages and fire employees despite a a tripling of profits since 2005.

However, with the economy in free fall the Greek Chamber of Commerce is predicting the closure of 175,000 shops and other small businesses in the near future with the loss of 300,000 jobs.

Two sudden hikes in VAT along with spiralling unemployment and wage cuts across the board have made Greek consumers wary of making purchases at a time when many have no idea if they will still have a job come winter.