A. Vgenopoulos: “Willing to Give 49% to the State if Asked”
MIG Vice President Andreas Vgenopoulos has stated from Heraklion, Crete he is willing not to sell OA, but to transfer up to 49% to the state if asked. Mr Vgenopoulos presented a new liner connecting Piraeus with Heraklion in Heraklion, Crete Thursday. The ship belongs to Attica Group and will begin its trips as of today. In parallel, he pointed out that he wishes to man the new Olympic Airlines with employees, who will not only be qualified but wiling to work hard. Meanwhile, employees do not agree with the procedure of hiring employees in the new OA through advertisements published by MIG; they invite them not to send their CVs.
Mr Vgenopoulos made it clear on Thursday that he intends to constitute Olympic Airlines again an absolutely healthy private company to the benefit of its shareholders and Greece.
He did not commit himself on the number of employees and called those interested to submit their CVs. Mr Vgenopoulos rejected statements as per which he intends to sell OA not only for entrepreneurial reason but also for emotional.
In parallel, he pointed out that he had discussed with the PASOK (Socialists) leader and other opposition party leaders, adding that he is willing to transfer up to 49% of the company to the Greek State, if any government asks him to do so.
The employees’ presidiums in OA have already asked from their colleagues not to respond to MARFIN’s ads, describing this procedure of hiring personnel outdated, as it neglects thousands of employees working in the company now.
In his Wednesday statements after the approval of the agreement by the Bi-ministerial committee to sell OA, the Development minister reiterated that the employees’ incomes are fully secured, whether they decide to be transferred to another public sector or resign voluntarily. However, if they choose to work in the new company, Mr Hatzidakis stated they would be preferred due to their experience.
Messrs Hatzidakis and Vgenopoulos met at the Development minister’s office the previous days, but during their meeting the businessman did not commit himself on the number of employees who will man the new OA.
Finally, the minister reported that there would be healthy competition between the new company and Aegean Airlines, which he described healthy and dynamic, adding that they could co-exist.
Meanwhile, the agreement on Marfin’s purchase of the company’s flight operations and technical maintenance base will be tabled at Parliament at Easter at the latest and thus as of 1 October the new company will commence functioning.
The Development minister announced that the Group would also purchase the ground handling service if negotiations with Swissport do not prove fruitful by Friday.