The Alternate Minister of National Defence Fotis Kouvelis visited today the 700th Military Plant and the Army Chemical Laboratory, accompanied by the Chief HAGS, Lieutenant General Alkiviadis Stefanis, and the Special Secretary of the Ministry, Kalliopi Papaleonida.

Fotis Kouvelis stressed that the government’s goal is to upgrade the 700th Military Plant, which produces many essential items for the personnel of the country’s Armed Forces.
The government’s interventions for the upgrade and modernisation of the 700th Military Plant are, on one hand, part of the plan to increase the self-sufficiency in basic equipment items for the country’s military personnel and, on the other hand, part of the government’s development policy, which includes the reinforcement of industrial production units.

The Alternate Minister of National Defence visited the plant’s production areas and discussed with the Plant’s military and civilian personnel.

Addressing the Plant’s Command and personnel, Fotis Kouvelis stressed the following:

“I am glad to be in the 700th Military Plant, a unit that admittedly performs remarkable work.
 
One of the oldest units of the Hellenic Army, very active and with a valuable contribution, both during the Greco-Italian War, as well as during other critical periods of our history.
Undoubtedly, the work performed in the plant’s facilities is excellent.
The plant’s mechanical equipment, combined with your high professionalism and specialised skills, results in the production of high quality products.
 
This ensures quality, self-sufficiency, and security and independence of supply regarding the items in question.
 
We know that you, as employees, have seen during the past eight years of MoU regime your lives change dramatically, with pay cuts, combined with the reduction of the welfare state.
The country is now out of the MoU regime. Within this framework, rest assured that our first priority will be the restoration of the injustices suffered by the working people.
Those who unjustly bore the grunt of the crisis without, of course, being responsible for its causes and the imposition of the MoU regime to our country.
Our interventions will involve four main areas, mainly aimed at relieving the financially weakest citizens:
·         Increase of the minimum salary,
·         Restoration of collective negotiations,
·         Gradual increase of wages and benefits slashed and
·         Reinforcement of the welfare state and the welfare social structures,
 
which for us are a basic tool and means of social justice, fair growth, and fair distribution of the wealth produced.
 
The Plant’s military personnel come from all three services of the Armed Forces.

Furthermore, the participation of OAED trainees, within the framework of co-operation with the jointly competent Ministries, in the production of the Plant’s products is particularly important.
The political and military leadership of the Ministry of National Defence is fully aware of the tremendous work you perform, both the military and the civilian personnel, often under difficult conditions.
A critical factor for the Plant’s operation is the civilian personnel.
We are well aware, as much as you are, of the massive civilian personnel shortages due to retirements and the MoU-imposed hire freeze.
We promise that this issue will be gradually addressed, starting soon, in order to cover the needs and further improve working conditions for all of you”.