To Whom It May Concern,

We are a group of whistleblowers workers of Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI). We write this letter as a
collective expression of our concerns and dissatisfaction regarding our current salary benefits. We are
dedicated and skilled professionals who have been contributing our expertise to your esteemed company
for a considerable amount of time. We understand the complexities of the economic landscape in
Greece, a nation that is a proud member of both NATO and the European Union. However, we believe it
is our right to voice our concerns about the current state of our salaries in relation to the cost of living in
this country [1]. The salaries we receive, ranging from 750 euros to 1100 euros, do not adequately reflect
our qualifications, skills, and the responsibilities we shoulder within the Aerospace Industry. We firmly
believe that Greece should strive to ensure that the remuneration of its citizens is more in line with
other European countries and not significantly lagging behind.

We would like to address the matter of bonuses. While we appreciate the bonuses provided by the
Lockheed Martin Company, we believe they are insufficient in bridging the gap between our current
salaries and what would be considered a fair wage. In fact, the bonus we receive sometimes feels more
like an inadequate consolation rather than a meaningful benefit. We kindly suggest that, if these amounts
cannot be allocated to improving our wages, they should be directed towards philanthropic initiatives,
which would be a better utilization of these funds.

Our government has often stated the issue of brain drain in Greece [2]. Many of our fellow citizens,
including a lot of our colleagues [3], have been compelled to seek employment abroad due to the
significant disparity in salaries and opportunities. The response from the company, as reported by some
of our colleagues, that "if you don't like it, give up and go abroad" is disheartening. We believe that we,
as dedicated and skilled professionals, should not be encouraged to leave our homeland, but rather should
be given reasons to stay and contribute to the growth and development of Greece. This letter is driven by
our sense of patriotism and the desire to see the VIPER program not only preserved but also improved.
The continuous departure of qualified technicians with advanced engineering university degrees to other
professions in Greece, (such as supermarket employees, bartenders, waiters, taxi drivers, etc.) or to project
contracts in various European countries( Belgium, Poland, France, Germany, Nederland’s, etc.) leads to a
steady loss of talented, hardworking individuals from our company. We ask Lockheed Martin to take
measures to retain HAI valuable workforce and address the salary issue as a means to ensure the
sustainability and success of the VIPER program.

In conclusion, our fundamental request is that we be treated as European citizens working in the
aerospace industry rather than as inexpensive labor in a smaller nation. We seek the opportunity to build
a future in our homeland, and for our qualifications to be duly acknowledged. We request fair and
equitable advancements in our careers, aligning with the standards upheld by fellow NATO and European
Union member states. Moreover, it is disheartening that individuals with European university degrees are
forced to split their time between upgrading cutting-edge fighter jets in the morning for one of the world's
largest companies and working as delivery drivers for local pizzerias in the afternoon, all to support their
families and cover their rent. This stark reality highlights the need for meaningful change.[4] [5] [6].

We are confident that by working together, we can find a solution that is fair, just, and in the best interest
of all parties involved. Thank you for your attention to our concerns. We look forward to your response
and the opportunity to engagein a constructive dialogue regarding this matter.
[1] For 2022, Greece has a cost of living index without rent 56.2. This put Greece between Germany
and Spain in the cost of living, while on 19 December 2022, it was published that the average salary in
Greece is the fifth lowest between Poland and Slovakia that means when Germany is 7th and Spain is
13th Greece is 23rd .

 https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/w/ddn-20221219-3

 https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/rankings_by_country.jsp?title=2022&region=150
 https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-
living/country_price_rankings?displayCurrency=USD&itemId=105&region=150

[2] https://www.theglobaleconomy.com/rankings/human_flight_brain_drain_index/

[3] From reports of employees who work in the VIPER program, on average, leave every month 1.5
experienced employees, which created a big problem for the program if we take into account that for an
employee to be considered experienced, they must spend at least two years of continuous work on the
aerospace industry.

[4] https://www.ot.gr/2023/09/12/english-edition/significantly-higher-rent-prices-in-greece-over-past-
five-years/

[5] https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-gr/news/2023/lockheed-martin-hellenic-aerospace-industry-
deliver-10th-f-16v-hellenic-air-force.html

[6] https://interestingengineering.com/culture/a-look-at-aerospace-engineering-salaries-worldwide