Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 13-03-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] Heracles Cement closes down production unit in Halkida

[02] Dispute over Thessaloniki metro antiquities

[01] Heracles Cement closes down production unit in Halkida

The production unit in Halkida has been idle since July 2011. The restructuring programme aims to help the group deal more efficiently with the impact of a deep recession in the construction sector, safeguarding the viability of the company and of its growth prospects both in the domestic and external markets.

Under the new structure, Heracles Cement will continue cement production from its two units in Volos and Evia, exploiting their comparative advantages, mainly their port facilities, to support the group's activities in Greece and in the wider Mediterranean region.amna

The production unit in Halkida was hit by a plunge in construction activity in Attica, with sales falling by 80 pct in the period 2008-2013. The company said it will seek every possible solution to minimize the effect of its decision to close down the unit to its 236 workers.amna

Heracles Cement said the decision will burden its 2013 results by 57 million euros, but expects a positive impact of 18 million euros annually in the following years.

Trade unionists, reacting to the firm's decision, accused the French-owned company (the majority of its shares are owned by Lafarge) of engaging in "apparent blackmail" and alleged "profiteering practices".

The workers' trade union president told AMNA that the management "refused to make exports and proceeded to shut down the Halkida production unit in order to keep cement prices high in foreign markets, where they have a leading role by engaging in cartel practices." amna

Workers' mobilizations are planned for Wednesday in the city of Lamia, central Greece, outside the Sterea Ellada Regional Authority offices. Mobilizations are also planned by the Cement Workers' Trade Union Federation.

[02] Dispute over Thessaloniki metro antiquities

In a letter addressed to Alternate Culture Minister Costas Tzavaras and the Central Archaeological Council (KAS), the association noted that two months after the ministerial decision the public debate that followed with the participation of local authorities and scientists has proved that the antiquities unearthed at the Venizelos Station construction site can coexist with the metro project if the station is redesigned. amna

"Alternative options were never presented in the KAS meeting that decided in favour of the removal of the antiquities," the Association of Greek Archaeologists underlined.

Archaeologists reject the position of the project contractor that the findings should be removed because they cannot coexist with the city metro under construction. They suggest that the antiquities can be showcased in a subterranean museum that can be visited by metro commuters and tourists. amna

The dispute began after construction works in downtown Venizelos Station unearthed a well-preserved marble-paved road and remains of shops and public buildings dated from the Byzantine Period.

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