Public sector employees versus... themselves

Severe reactions were engendered by information about a “secret deal” between the Finance Ministry and tax and customs officials, as wells as workers in KEPYO and the General Accounting Office, for smaller payroll losses through the replacement of allowances to be lost through a gradual increase in basic salaries.

Representatives from civil servant sectors talked about unfair treatment and about a new pay scale that preserves old inequalities.

The ADEDY General Secretary, Mr. Elias Eliopoulos, warned that if the information is true, the public servants will go against the Finance Ministry.

The new ADEDY president Costas Tsikrikas, from the PASKE Education sector, succeeded Spyros Paparspyros on Tuesday. The latter had spent 11 years as ADEDY leader and did not want to put forth his own opinion, since the information is unconfirmed.

According to the tax officers, headed by Mr. Giannis Grivas, high bonuses amounting to 800-1500 will be slowly phased out on paper but will remain as an individual difference in their wages!

Any reductions in their own rates will be replaced with a corresponding increase in basic salaries so that no dramatic losses are incurred.

After the reactions, however, the Treasury stated that it is examining ways for the same model to “rescue” other branches, provided that the budgetary expenditure reduction set in the medium term plan is adhered to.