GFTU BGCM 2017

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 Greece have had 6 years of recession which other than after world war one has not happened! Leadership reflects the quality of the people as they vote them in. but the media has diminished the

Both structures work together parallel to each other and have completely separate congress’ to vote on leaders and the direction of the movement 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!!!

Photo courtesy of Bindu Paul and Sarah Woolley

Report on the Study Visit to Greece | Page 40