Fighting for what's wrong

Ongoing developments at the Greek National Theater are essentially nothing more than a reflection of the state of the broader state sector. The state-run organization's artistic director, Stathis Livathinos, decided not to renew the fixed-term contracts of three employees who, furthermore, stand accused of "inappropriate behavior." As soon as his decision was announced, the union representing workers there hit back, calling strikes, threatening to cancel scheduled performances at the open-air Theater of Epidaurus, holding a sit-down protest outside the theater and threatening go-slow action. They utilized every weapon in the arsenal of over-the-top unionism.

For his part, the artistic director, with the support of the board of directors, is trying his best to explain his decision without backing down to the unions, even though he does not appear to have the backing of his...