Greece’s private-sector umbrella union, GSEE, said on Tuesday it is prepared to discuss ways to reduce costs with employers’ groups to boost the country’s competitive position, but it refuses demands from Greece’s international creditors to make deep cuts to wages.
The talks, which could begin as early as this week, will take place as Athens awaits a visit by a delegation of Greece’s creditors Monday to negotiate the details of a new loan deal for the country.
In meetings with labor groups last week, Prime Minister Lucas Papademos made clear that the Troika is demanding Greece abolish its minimum wage and eliminate the two months of bonus pay stipulated under the country’s national wage pact. He has instructed the GSEE to start discussions with employers on ways to reduce labor costs.
Panagopoulos said he was prepared to discuss steps to reduce non-wage related costs to businesses. But the current national wage contract–which expires at the end of 2012–must not be touched.
“We will attend the meeting requested by the employers’ group, however we say ‘no’ to any form of dialogue regarding the National General Collective Labor Agreement,” Yannis Panagopoulos, president of GSEE, said Tuesday after a meeting of the union’s leadership council.
(source: Dow Jones)
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