SEV takes moderate tone
Dimitris Daskalopoulos, the new president of the Federation of Greek Industries (SEV), exuded calm in his first official press briefing yesterday. This was apparent in all his responses to questions on all hot issues, social insurance and collective pay pacts. At the end of the session, however, under the pressure of successive questions, the tone changed and moderation gave way to the strong criticism of politicians. «There is a lack of boldness in all political forces and fear of reform in much of public opinion,» he said. But the moderate tone on the whole prevailed and was especially apparent on issues that usually attract fierce responses from the labor unions. For instance, not once was Daskalopoulos heard referring to «labor costs.» «For almost 20 years that we have engaged in discussions we have achieved labor peace and communication through the system of collective pay pacts,» he said. SEV Vice President Christos Kyriazis, who will represent the agency on the committee that is to examine possible reform of the pension system, hinted at the need for prolonging working life in some categories. «We are concerned at the abuse of some privileges that may have some historical origin but I think that under the present system some of these must be revised,» he said.
