The first round of wage talks between Greek employers’ groups and the private-sector umbrella union, GSEE, were postponed Wednesday after protesters stormed the meeting.
The discussions are aimed at reducing Greek labor and other costs, partly through cutting private-sector salaries as demanded by the country’s international creditors in an effort to boost the country’s competitiveness.
About 100 protesters from the Communist-backed PAME union, some carrying banners that called on the participants to “keep their hands off wages and pensions” entered the room where the talks were being held.
“Every time they negotiated in the past, their decision was against the workers,” said Chryssoula Labroudi, a senior member of PAME. “They want to cut our wages, by claiming as an excuse that they are not going to do layoffs. We don’t believe them anymore and we are happy that we stopped them at least for today.”
The talks were called after Prime Minister Lucas Papademos made clear that Greece’s international creditors have asked Greece to consider abolishing its minimum wage and eliminate the two months of bonus pay stipulated under the country’s national wage pact.
Before going to the meeting, GSEE has made clear that it was willing to discuss ways to reduce costs with employers’ groups, but refuses demands to cut wages. Employers’ groups have called for a wage freeze for up to three years, but haven’t supported outright cuts in salaries.
(source: Dow Jones)
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