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Whilst we were sat in the home of Costas doubled up as a open house to those who need to use it a
number of people came in to use the shower, wash their clothes and collect ‘new’ ones. They also
provide a job search facility and give children lessons.
We then visited one of the cooking stations, similar to the one we saw in Pireaus where a team meet
up with a huge cooking pot, gas burner, ingredients and utensils and make a huge pasta dish to give
out to those who need it. They do this daily in different areas of Athens and serve anything from 20-
200+ people at different times. Again these aren’t just refugees and homeless people but also
working people on low wages who may be surviving on that one cooked meal per day.
Dr Christina Theochari
On our final day we met with Dr Christina Theochari is the Head of Environment and International
Relations Department at the Athens Labour Unions Organization.
She explained to us about her involvement with the GFTU and being involved in Active Aging work a
couple of years ago.
She gave us an overview of what the trade union movement was like in Greece at the moment how
the structure works.
She firstly reported that 50% of young people are unemployed and as more and more people are
becoming unemployed so the membership declines further, although they have seen an increase in
part time and precarious workers coming into the union and being active.
Trade Union Structure
There are three levels to the private sector Greek Trade Union Structure
Company level – members of the same profession or workplace usually production/services or small
businesses. As few as 20 employees can become a union in their own right!
Sectoral Federations – These are different areas of work for example energy/oil
Labour centres- these are on the same level as sectoral federations and are based in centres of
regions such as the one in Athens and is an organisation of the unions in that area
General Federation – The sectoral federations and labour centres belong to these
At all levels every three years there are elections for leaders of the unions president, general
secretary etc and also for delegates to the next level ups congress which again has election for
leaders
In the public sector there are also three levels
Unions in ministries
Sectoral in ministries
Public servants
Both structures work together parallel to each other and have completely separate congress’ to vote
on leaders and the direction of the movement