FEDERATION TOBACCONISTS OF GREECE
(O.P.K.E.)
Koutarelia 74, 1st Floor, Volos
Tel-FAX 24210-32780 kin.6934832876
www.oebem.gr, email: oebemg@gmail.com
VOLOS 19/04/2011
Ref: 473
COMMUNICATION PRESS RELEASE
TO
ASSOCIATIONS – UNIONS
Dear Colleague,
The Federation tobacconists of Greece (O.P.K.E.) at the invitation of the Association Tenants Pavilions Thessaloniki participated in the meeting – a nationwide meeting held on Saturday 16/4/2011 at Business Chamber. The discussion was on the major issues facing our industry, and the whole of our industry attendees agreed that unions need to be done the following:
1) Wholesalers representatives to proceed with immediate implementation of the Law 3943/2011, article 47 and paragraph 6.
2) The tobacco companies have to make an immediate appreciation of their trade marks under the agreement made with the Ministry.
3) Our suggestion was to have a rational distribution and increase the after tax rate of 50% for Tabacco Shops Kiosks Network – Distributors station operator, to provide sustainability in our operations. (Provided that our partners will first implement the Law 3943/2011).
4) it is imperative to strive to be safeguards sustainability in the stands – tobacconists.
5) were informed about how many colleagues have now lost their jobs (2,350 colleagues), and of course have remained unemployed. Whether we all Associations – Links – Clubs – Associations could help to avoid adding to the list of unemployed and our other colleagues.
6) were informed about the matter of rent and how it can be a solution to this issue.
7) Mobile telephone cards: updated associations to what stage of development is the issue of greatest percentage claim.
8) Vending machines: informed his colleagues about what can be done on this important issue.
9) There was a reference to the jurisdiction of the license after the existence of Kallikratis Municipalities, municipal charges, the existence of smuggling, trafficking of other products as well as the legal framework for products sold.
10) As for the proposal of the Thessaloniki Society for restructuring the overall taxation, we consider the issue on competition tobacco industry as set and bears no relation to the extent and distribution of after tax value, which is determined by factors other than taxation e.g. retail price fixing manufactured tobacco (it would be useful, but excluding unknown whether a possible overall decrease of tax at 2009 levels).
11) When the industry Peripterouchon tobacconists Greece together with the manufacturing process of tobacco far exceeds the 150,000 thousand families. When our country is in a great and profound crisis, when one after another booth puts padlock when our companies are heavily indebted to the banking system when our several businesses located in Tiresias, when our our huge operating costs leading to extinction, then there needs to be unity and large conglomerate in order to meet the great challenges of everyday life.
12) were informed about the issue of kapnoapagorefsis and coordinating O.P.K.E. the G.S.E.V.E.E and the IMNCP to avert the great danger lurking by a total ban on smoking. We asked if this time can not be amendment to freeze for at least two years. For this our idea is to continue with the protests with other agencies as were until yesterday, in order to prevent this situation that can put us in very great difficulties.
THE PRESIDENT: Kostas Kogias
TΗΕ GENERAL SECRETARY: Vasileios Gkouvinas