Galery

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The ministry does not at all want to discuss our exit from the public sector. Because our service is profitable - I mean, we're not at a loss as is OSE, for example. There is a bill that seemingly meets the criteria set for the organization, which the EU requires. Although this bill was introduced for debates in Parliament, then was sent back because the strike of the carriers started, now more urgent is the question about the State Railways and I hope that in the moment when the subject of the railways is completed, we will come at a day line. This law will reorganize our service, but everything depends on political developments. We have elections, no one knows what will happen, where parliamentary elections will be announced after this or even if the Minister of Transport changes, we will get back again.

Why did you announce a strike last week after you are aware of the situation and yet dialogue with the ministry has started?

After the strike we had on July 24^th and 25^th, then we spoke with the Minister of Finance, the Vice President of the Government and then we were told that they will begin to discuss our requests, but two months and a half have passed since then and there was no development of our case. So we decided to announce a 24-hour strike to remind politicians that we exist and we need to talk. This is an attempt to speed up procedures, because "if the child does not cry out – it will not eat". There is still a long way to go, until decisions are made. They are related to the organization, to finance. Some of the allowances we were taking were cut down, but we are paid our salaries from the European Union. Greek state pays us, but then accounts for it to Eurocontrol about how much money it has spent on air transport which are refunded. The fees for a plane to fly over the sky bring some profit - for example, for an airplane to fly over Bulgaria  it only pays 25 euros per mile, over Greece – it pays 45 euros per mile, over Italy is 75 euros, over Turkey - 39 euros. It is associated with the cost of air transport in each country. If a salary in Greece is 10 000 euros and in Bulgaria – 3000 euros, then the price for Bulgaria is definitely lower. Greece reports for its costs and provides them to the European Union and thuy then calculate how many planes have passed through Greece, how many have passed through Bulgaria, divides the amount and obtains the price per unit and subsequently pays the amount to that country. Everything comes from the EU - salaries, pensions and allowances. After signing the memorandum with the triple, Minister of Finance said that our allowances will decrease by 20% and our allowances for Christmas Easter and holidays were cut. Our question is why are they cutting money, that do not come from the state and now we are negotiating on how to stop this procedure, because the state loses as well from the fact that we are being taxed by 40%.