The port of distress…

Today is the most critical day for tourism and the Greek shipping industry, as the Greek Seamen's Federation will meet to decide whether to proceed to a strike or not.

A lot depends on the meeting with Haris Pamboukis, deputy minister of Regional Development, Competitiveness and Shipping, that will precede the above at 4pm.    

The government is holding one more “armed bomb” and if it blows up it will bring down everything for Greek tourism, especially after the chaos that has ensued from the actions of taxi drivers.

Moreover, hundreds of thousands of tourists who have planned their vacations on the islands and have made reservations are sitting on hot coals, as they do not know whether they will travel, while the business sector on the islands is on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

Additionally, a possible strike by seamen will sink the coastal shippoing groups further into economic crisis, as they are now giving the ultimate fight to keep the business afloat.

The cause of the clash is the reduction, or even elimination of the pensions and insurance privileges of Greek maritime workers.

The federation is asking for a repeal of article 44 of the implementation law that refers to reduced funding for NAT, which affects pensions.

Pensions have been cut in half

It is characteristic that in 20 months, maritime workers' pensions have been cut even by 55%!

Also, according to data from the NAT along with KEAN and KAAN, the 2011 deficit exceeds 1,3 billion euros.

Maritime workers have the good will to talk, but not to back down.

Haris Pamboukis has proposed solutions, such the “freezing” of the law for maritime workers’ pensions, and has also promised to respond later this afternoon.

Any acceptance of PNO demands will create problems for the government since it will whet the appetite of other sectors to pursue the implementation of their own claims to the bitter end.

Pamboukis attempts to be acquiescent in his letter to the PNO, as revealed yesterday by protothema.gr, but notes that the issues “are raised in the context of fiscal adjustment measures due to the current economic situation in the country.”

In their announcement, the following unions send out a call to maritime workers to prepare for strike in the last ten days of July: PEMEN (National Union of Merchant Marine Engineers), STEPHENSON (lower machine crew), PEEMAGEN (National Professional Merchant Navy Chefs Association), PEPRN (Panhellenic Union of Rescue and Tug Boat Crews), with the support of PES/NAT (Panhellenic Union of NAT Pensioners) and the Committee of Unemployed Maritime Workers.

Sympathy from coastal shipping, but…

According to information, senior ferry company execs met with the PNO on Monday, expressed their support for the just claims of seamen, but also appealed for a strike deferment since such a decision during this particular period would deal a deadly economic blow to the ferry industry and the economies of the islands.

In a statement, the Union of Marine Enterprises sounded the alarm for the industry in the case of any decision for strike by the PNO:

“Public shipping experiences the justified reactions of the united maritime world about the future of its pensions. The origin of the problematic financial state of NAT can be traced back to several decades ago, when each administration managed things in a shady manner, wasting the Fund’s contributions, without anyone ever “paying for” the damage caused by this policy.

Any decisions by the government on reductions of our seamen’s pensions and an adjustment to their retirement years are regarded as unfair and counterproductive for the future of the maritime profession.

The Regional Development, Competitiveness and Shipping ministry has an obligation to find the necessary solutions in order to avoid a strike during the summer, so as not to strike a blow against tourism, entrepreneurship on our islands and transportation, and of course passenger shipping, which will result in unemployment for all maritime workers.

In any case, public shipping condemns in advance any strikes in the tourist season, wanting a climate of consent, and the continuity of its transportation work”.