Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-10-12

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] OA unions discuss privatisation

[02] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] OA unions discuss privatisation

Following a meeting with representatives of flight attendants, Minister Costis Hatzidakis said the government will satisfy their demand to increase social security contribution stamps by 50 percent, which essentially means moved up dates for early retirement. The measure will affect for individuals hired as flight attendants before Jan. 1, 1993.

In a separate meeting with representatives of OA contract workers, Hatzidakis announced a doubling of unemployment benefits for any OA contract employee laid off, as well as a doubling of the duration of the benefit, to one year. Additionally, a 30,000-euro subsidy will be available towards the opening of a private business.

Finally, pilots' representatives were guaranteed a boost in their pensions and a bonus if transferring to another carrier.

A final and closely watched meeting with OSPA, the umbrella grouping that represents all of OA's sectors and the most vocal opponent of the planned privatisation, is set for Monday.

Before the agreement with the specific sector unions, OSPA had refused to enter into dialogue with the ministry.

[02] Athens Newspaper Headlines

Énitiatives on a national and European level to ameliorate, forestall or prevent repercussions from the continuing international credit crisis mostly dominated the front pages of the Sunday editions of Athens' newspapers.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "(Vatopedi monastery abbot) Ephraim to provide statement to Supreme Court prosecutor on Tuesday".

APOGEVMATINI: "EU leaders to meet in Paris over international credit crisis".

AVGHI: "Too little, too late: G7 plan".

AVRIANI: "Insurance companies collapsing".

CHORA: "The man who threw the world into darkness. Bush policy brought world's economy to the brink of disaster".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "FinMin George Alogoskoufis: no increase in objective real estate tax criteria or VAT".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "You haven't seen anything yet in international credit crisis."

EPOCHI: "Salvage or euthanasia? Crisis reveals seminal anomalies in (capitalist) system."

ETHNOS: The paper banners another opinion poll on the state of politics in the country, referring to a political 'bomb' for the government.

KATHIMERINI: "International leaders, markets worried. Hope from Sunday euro zone summit".

LOGOS: "Obligatory change in course by government due to global economic crash".

NIKI: "Government gambling with the crisis for petty partisan benefits".

PARON: "Elections in the spring, government reshuffles in January".

PROTO THEMA: "Emergency plan to save banks, secret meeting between FinMin and Bank of Greece governor".

RIZOSPASTIS: "Anti-popular handling of crisis by ND-PASOK."

VIMA: "Operation anti-crash - Euro zone summit in Paris, Europe threatened with biggest downturn since 1929".

VRADYNI: "Dynamic and coordinated moves by governments the antidote to panic".

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