The new 2008-2009 enterprise-level collective labour agreement for employees of Hellenic Post (ELTA) was signed in an atmosphere of confrontation, following an announcement by the Minister of Transport and Communications that the government intended to seek a strategic investor for the organisation’s subsidiary, ELTA Courier.
History of ELTA
The postal services sector in Greece has had to face a range of significant developments since the mid-1990s. Of note among them are the gradual liberalisation of the market, the large number of enterprises active in the fast developing sector of courier services and the entry of the Hellenic Post (Ελληνικά ταχυδρομεία, ELTA) Group, the majority shareholder of which is the Greek state, into new markets (courier services, retail sales, financial sector).
Up to 1998 ELTA was a loss-making company whose debts were paid by the state. In 1997, based on the EC Directive prohibiting state subsidies, the Greek state paid off ELTA's whole debt of around GRD126 billion (€0.37 billion). Since 2000 ELTA has been in profit and in 2005 and 2006 its profit amounted to EUR10-12 million. At present ELTA is the sole provider of universal postal services in Greece (GR0704019Q).
Government plan to find a strategic investor
ELTA Courier (Ταχυμεταφορές ΕΛΤΑ) is a subsidiary of ELTA which has been operating since January 2001, providing courier services in Greece and abroad.
The conservative New Democracy government has set itself the goal of finding a strategic investor for ELTA Courier in 2008. As the Minister of Transport and Communications announced in his address to the ‘Third Mail Marketing Forum’, the preparation of ELTA’s new Strategic and Operational Plan for the 2008-2013 period is nearing completion and its main focus will be to find a strategic investor for the enterprise before the end of this year.
In opposition to the government plans, the Panhellenic Federation of Postal Trade Union Associations (Πανελλήνια Ομοσπονδία Σωματείων Ταχυδρομικών, POST) held a 24-hour nationwide strike in July 2008 and issued a statement of its position, proposing an overall strategic plan to deal with the growing ELTA Group. It warned that it would step up industrial action in the coming period, when the government has firmed up details of its plans.
New 2008-2009 enterprise-level agreement
In an atmosphere of confrontation over the issue of ELTA Courier, in late June 2008 the new two-year 2008-2009 enterprise-level agreement for ELTA employees was concluded between POST and ELTA management.
This enterprise-level agreement is to first to be reached following the final decision by the European Parliament to fully liberalise the postal market by 31 December 2010, and that of Greece in particular by 31 December 2012 at the latest.
The enterprise-level agreement applies to the labour relations of permanent ELTA employees, including the 83 employees who have been posted to ELTA Courier, and provides for the following:
- from 1 February 2008 to 31 August 2008 the scale for starting pay is set at €737 a month and for final salary at career end at €1,329. From 1 Septembe r2008 to 30 April 2009 the scale for starting pay is set at €762 and for final salary at €1,409. From 1 May 2009 to 31 December 2009 the scale for starting pay is set at €803 and for final salary at career end at €1,489;
- it was agreed that the post-graduate studies allowance will be increased by 6%, the doctoral dissertation allowance by 8% and the foreign language allowance by 7%;
- it was agreed that a special bonus will be granted, linked to the operating results produced by employees. This does not include financial results (interest and dividends). To share out the amount to be distributed, a committee consisting of representatives of ELTA and POST has been set up, which will propose that it be paid out as social benefits or staff bonuses;
- the amount granted to meet expenses for nurseries and crèches was set at €170 beginning on 1 October 2008; and
- it was agreed that a Central Committee for Workplace Health and Safety will be set up at ELTA, with an advisory role and competencies.
Commentary
Many public utilities and services (a sector known as DEKO) supervised by the Ministry of Transport and Communications are undergoing restructuring, such as Olympic Airlines (GR0801049I), the Hellenic Railways Organisation (Οργανισμός Σιδηροδρόμων Ελλάδας, OSE) and the Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (Οργανισμός Τηλεπικοινωνιών Ελλάδας, OTE) (GR0805019I). This has sparked opposition from the workers’ side. In parallel, renewed efforts towards the practical implementation of Law 3429/2005, which provides for a seven-month trial period before newly-hired staff in DEKOs are granted permanent status (GR0507101F), the passing of Law 691/2008 during the summer and the abolition of the enterprise-level collective labour agreements regarding pay-related issues for newly hired employees in DEKOs (GR0809029I) have further intensified the confrontation. However, the government believes these to be necessary moves to restore the broader public sector to health in the interest of the general good.
Sofia Lampousaki, Labour Institute of Greek General Confederation of Labour (INE/GSEE)