The story of the fired cleaning ladies of the Greek Finance Ministry has gripped the nation and even made its way to the European Parliament. Their saga was to come to an end at the Supreme Court on Tuesday, but despite their all-night vigil the case was postponed until February 24.

Supreme Court Judge Christoforos Kosmidis had recommended that the laid-off cleaners should not be rehired and he is expected to recommend that the Finance Ministry’s motion be accepted so that the decision of the first-degree court in favor of the cleaners be annuled. The Greek Finance Ministry had appealed to the Supreme Court to temporarily freeze a decision ordering the rehiring of 397 cleaning ladies of the 595 fired. This move had left the cleaning ladies in limbo.

The women had hoped that Tuesday’s decision would end their ordeal however the cleaners’ lawyers said that they are on standby as the Supreme Council for Civil Personnel Selection for rehiring is underway.

Public sector union ADEDY cited its pending motion tabled in the Council of State that rules on the constitutionality of the availability scheme.

Meanwhile, following the postponement, the laid-off cleaners held a protest outside the court on Tuesday demanding that they be rehired.