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When they do meet its academics who deliberate on their behalf to go to the government to
negotiate and every year the situation of the Greek economy is brought up(usually September time)
The subsequent papers show the situation, purpose and direction of the trade unions.
Trade unions have internal conflicts, with different opinions. The finical crisis in Greece has caused
splits in the trade unions.
Climate change
Dr Christin has been in the department of environment and pollution since 1990. She organises
seminars and courses for trade unionists one of them being about the protection of environment
and occupational health and safety another.
Legislation
The environment is over regulated due to EU directives and Greece’s own regulations thought the
inspections of the legislation are weak. There are fines but not a lot happens after them with regards
to forcing compliance. Through the crisis though the environment has not been a priority so the
amount of inspections has decreased.
Environmental legislation is welcome and people are sensitive to the issues (sometimes overly so)
but in some cases groups try to divert issues in the name of the environment in order to push
through their own agenda. For example there is a gold mine in Northern Greece – the new
government promised the inhabitants of the area that the exploitation of the workers would stop. A
Canadian mining company purchased the mine and indeed did stop the exploitation but now 3000
people are unemployed leading to a social disaster not an environmental one!!!
Young People
Christina believed that the trade union movement isn’t really responding to the needs of the young
people and still remains traditional in their approach and ideas. They don’t deny that it is an issue;
they don’t do much about it. There is no strategy to engage with young people (some individual
unions to – but not in general). The traditional way of holding meetings does not fit into the way of
living now where people mainly communicate online via social media or text message. This should
not replace face to face meetings though as they have a greater effect.
This though is a worldwide issue and reflected the conversation Sarah had with two young students
on the metro when we arrived on the Friday. They basically said if your parents are trade unionists
then you likely will be too otherwise trade unions do not seem interested in young people’s needs
just to make political gains.
Other points noted on the trip
Suicide rates have shot up in Greece since the crisis and projects such as Solidarity and Costas are
designed to stop people from feeling isolated and lonely. For most attendees the only conversation
they have on a day to day basis will be at the projects.
It is not enough just to feed the homeless, refugees or low paid workers struggling to survive. They
need more such as homes and communities which will help redevelop healthy mind sets too.
Trade unions in Greece are not political; they do not affiliate to any political party or have links to
them like we do. They do have positions on what is happening but no influence. For example the
trade unions said the referendum was a mistake as it would divide people. It was carried out outside
of the law in 5 days