Government and trade unions agree on salary raises

The government and three major trade unions have come to an initial agreement on the terms for the renewal of their collective agreements for the period 2007-2009, which provide for salary increases for civil servants and employees of semi-governmental organisations.
The initial agreement will be put before the three trade unions (SEK, PEO and PASYDY) for final approval.
Employees of semi-governmental organisations and civil servants will be receiving 2% salary raises in 2008 and 1.5% in 2009, after an agreement reached on Wednesday between the Ministry of Finance and the trade unions.
The agreement, which covers the years 2007 to 2009, furthermore provides for 0.3% increases in pertinent benefits for 2007.
Speaking after a meeting with the trade unions, Minister of Finance Michalis Sarris said the agreement was ”fair” and would maintain the balance between inflation and public finances.
All three trade unions have also described the agreement as “fair.”
Sarris said the pertinent benefits were retroactive and had to do with a number of demands, such as provident funds.
SEK General Secretary Nicos Moyseos said the union believed the agreement me to a large extent the aims set out by SEK and guaranteed labour peace for the next two years. ”I am certain that the workers will approve it,” he added.
PEO General Secretary Pampis Kyritsis expressed satisfaction, noting that ”we have reached a reasonable and fair agreement, and it has been proven once again that the trade union movement is responsible, serious and determined, so that the result of economic growth is distributed fairly.”
PASYDY General Secretary Glafcos Hadjipetrou noted that the civil servants’ union would approve the agreement. ”The proposal is balanced and that is why we reached an agreement,” he added.
Asked how the trade unions accepted raises below the productivity level, Kyritsis explained that the agreement ”certainly does not satisfy the union fully but we held tough negotiations and reached the happy medium.”
Replying to the same question, Moyseos said the agreement increases minimum wages and thus ”for this group of low income workers the raises are very near the productivity levels.”