Kasselakis meets GSEE leadership, says basic monthly wage must increase to 900 euros

Main opposition SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance leader Stefanos Kasselakis on Thursday called for an immediate increase of the minimum wage to at least 900 euros per month, during a meeting with the presidency of the General Confederation of Employees of Greece (GSEE), an umbrella trade union organisation representing public and private-sector workers. He also stressed that the basic wage should be determined by national collective labour agreements and that the negotiating power of trade unions must be protected.

Kasselakis accused the government of "implementing the first step of a grander plan for labour insecurity," and of undermining labour and trade union rights as high prices "rocked society and the working class" and incomes remained unchanged.

He pointed out that Greece ranked 24th in the 27 EU member-states in terms of incomes, with minimal convergence with the rest of Europe, with the government imposing cheap, flexible labour. The main opposition leader said that 900 euros a month was the minimum needed to get by in Greece at present and that SYRIZA-PA wants to support trade unions in their efforts.