Greece fire - a few views .... jibber jabber until March 20th

Within the week employers and employees are expected to meet in order to determine their positions towards the troika demands to reduce wages in the private sector, the abolition of the 13th and 14th salary, the freezing of maturation and reduction of contributions.   Following the dramatic stance upheld by Prime Minister Lucas Papademos, who during his meeting with social partners said that «the only red line is the salvation of the country» and in light of the arrival of the troika delegation on January 16, the representatives of employers and workers are called to draw the line with regards to the demands that have taken the form of an ultimatum.   As the Sunday edition of the newspaper "To Vima" notes, representatives of the lenders sent a new e-mail to the government, requesting that the social partners agree on these demands, or have them imposed in the form of legislation.   The General Confederation of Greek Labour (GSEE), the umbrella trade union representing the private sector, which meets Tuesday, rejects any reduction in minimum wages, as well as wage maturities.   The Federation of Hellenic Enterprises (SEB) appears to reject the reduction of minimum wages, but is open to the abolition of maturation and calls for reducing non-wage costs.   The National Confederation of Greek Commerce (ESEE) favours maintaining minimum wages, but "freezing" them until 2014, while also requesting that there are no raises for the maturities and that employers' contributions are reduced by 10%.   SEB requested that the meeting between the social partners take place on Monday, however GSEE asked that it is postponed for a few days, in order to hold a meeting on Tuesday. http://www.athensnews.gr/portal/11/52080 Prime Minister Lucas Papademos will be meeting this week political party leaders who are supporting the government.   New Democracy (ND) party leader Antonis Samaras will be the first to go to the Maximos Mansion at 6 p.m. on Monday, while the meeting with Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) party leader George Karatzaferis has been set for Tuesday.   Papademos wants to brief the party leaders on the course of the Greek economy as well as the course of negotiations on the "haircut" for the Greek debt, while what is called for is a common strategy to be determined as well in light of the arrival of the EC/ECB/IMF troika next week and the tough negotiations that will follow.   Samaras, according to reports, is expected to point out to the prime minister that he supports and agrees with the targets set, but he will not support new measures for the 2013-15 period which, as he stresses, must be negotiated by the next government that will result from the elections.   On his part, Karatzaferis will call for a joint meeting of the party leaders to be held, a unanimously accepted strategy to be determined towards the troika and it to be presented by all the party leaders in a joint meeting with the representatives of the country's creditors. http://www.athensnews.gr/portal/8/52102