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Report on the Study Visit to Greece
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understanding that people are different but that they
are all human even if they have differing views (which
is the meaning behind the title of the project). It isn’t a
charity but a movement of solidarity, a movement of
love and respect.
Some people need the food and others need the
companionship but everyone wants to make their
everyday life better and this can be done collectively
via this project. It’s based on the idea that people get
involved in the actions. Everything in the house is from
peoples donations that come into the centre including
paying the rent and buying a car.
Costas wanted to make it very clear to us that he wasn’t
operating an NGO (non- governmental organisation
which is funded by the government) and the issues he
has with NGOs. Such as the reasons behind why people
get involved with them and the government having
control over it. He doesn’t want to answer to anyone
but do the work for people, to help people – not to be
self-serving which he believes NGOs are.
He gave us an example of the difference between an
NGO and the project; if john comes in for 2 packs of
pasta an NGO would have to document everything
who gives what to who and how much! Costas can give
John 2 packs of pasta and not have to account for it to
anyone.
He told us lots of NGO’s in Greece are corrupt and fronts
for money laundering of which he wants no part of.
Incidentally a perfect NGO is designed to work to cease
existence but in reality most create the reoccurrence of
the issue as it is their paid job and they don’t want to
lose it!
Unlike Solidarity Pireaus Costas does not get donations
from supermarkets and is very choosey who he accepts
donations from. For example Coca Cola offered 1 million
Euros to help Costas continue his good work and even
offered a car to be able to travel to different cities. But
everything had to have Coca Cola on it to go on their
promotional videos for them to use. So he not so very
politely refused. Some companies come to him and if
they donate with no conditions he says yes but no in
cases like Coca Cola. They need to be involved and join
in not just treat it like a charity.
Costas can help everyone from anywhere including
refugees and economic ones. NGOs have to see papers
and will on ly help those who are allowed to be helped
in that particular area.
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
Photo courtesy of Bindu Paul
and Sarah Woolley