Crisis Makes Greeks Wait Even Longer for Pay

Matthew Dalton

AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis
Firefighters employed on short-term contracts protest in front of the Athens Library in central Athens, demanding to sign employment contracts on Wednesday, May 30, 2012.

ATHENS (WSJ)—Henry Dunant Hospital, a gleaming, state-of-the-art facility in central Athens, is one of the best medical centers in Greece. But quality hasn't protected it from one of the most troubling trends of the country's economic crisis: a plague of late payments that threatens to drive Greeks deeper into an economic abyss. The hospital's 1,150 employees, doctors included, have yet to be paid any of their 2012 salaries. Employees just received the final payment of their 2011 salaries at the end of May. The hospital, which is owned by the Greek Red Cross, owes tens of millions of euros to its suppliers and banks. It, in turn, is owed at least €20 million ($24.8 million) by the Greek government.

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June 05, 2012

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1. Nicholas Kostopoulos wrote on June 05, 2012 11:17 AM	If I was Mr. Rapp while I sympathize with Greece, I would move out of Greece. If he stays he may lose his business, and still Greece will collapse. It something to think about if you business in Greece.

2. Philip Vorgias wrote on June 05, 2012 4:19 PM	Delayed paychecks is very unfortunate, I can understand the people's anger. But it will get far worse, not better, if SYRIZA is elected. Because they will assure a cut-off in the part of the Bailout Package which is provided for general use like salaries and pensions. Tripras is lying when he says Greece will have enough money to meet those obligations, it's a bald faced lie.

3. Nicholas Kostopoulos wrote on June 05, 2012 10:38 PM	It seems that in Greece everybody loves a liar (Syriza), and the citizens of Greece will believe that is all the economic problems will fix themselves with no pain. Syriza is like a "Pollyanna effect party" which states that everything is a ok, and rosy as the Greek citizens slowly sink into the abyss. What fools the Greek citizens have become to listen to all of this stupidity.

4. Philip Vorgias wrote on June 05, 2012 11:27 PM	Tsipras is doing EXACTLY what every politicians in Greece has done for the last 50 years Nicholas, lying through his teeth to get elected. He goes after PASOK and ND for their lies and corruption, but he's doing exactly the same thing. In fact, none of the Greek political parties are being straight with the Greek voters, because they don't believe they can get elected by telling folks the bad news-there will be more pain before things get better. But Tsipras is lying more than the rest and his lies are far more damaging. It's very easy to get discouraged with the state of Greek politics.
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Thursday, May 23, 2013 Last Update: 5:52 AM ET