OTE CEO says workers' rights not hurt by DT entry

ATHENS, March 22 (Reuters) - Workers' benefits and rights will not be affected by the entry of Germany's Deutsche Telekom (DT) as a strategic partner for Greek telecoms company OTE, its chief executive Panagis Vourloumis said on Saturday.

OTE workers on Friday called a three-day strike next week to protest against Deutsche Telekom's agreement to purchase a 20 percent stake in the company, saying the move would lead to further privatisation of OTE (OTEr.AT: Quote, Profile, Research) with a loss of jobs and benefits.

"Any changes by the entry (of DT) will not in the slightest affect the benefits of OTE's largest union or any of the company's workers," Vourloumis said in a speech to OTE's technicians union.

Deutsche Telekom (DTEGn.DE: Quote, Profile, Research) said it would pay 2.5 billion euros to buy nearly 20 percent in OTE from Greek buyout fund MIG and has entered talks with the Greek government, which owns about 28 percent, to buy a further stake.

Greece has said it is willing to sell up to an 8 percent stake in OTE to DT. OTE technicians' union will walk off the job on Monday while OTE main workers' union will strike from Wednesday through Friday.

OTE's powerful unions have scuttled deals in the past amid concerns that further stake sales will lead to job cuts and affect job security.

(Reporting by George Hatzidakis; editing by Chris Johnson)