Trade union confederation holds 33rd congress

In March 2007, the Greek General Confederation of Labour (GSEE) held its 33rd congress in Athens. As part of the conference proceedings, a vote was taken on GSEE’s action plan and demands for the next three years. In addition to outlining the action plan’s main points, the congress also held a ballot to elect a new executive.

On 15–18 March 2007, the Greek General Confederation of Labour (GSEE) held its 33rd congress in the capital city of Athens. Among the key themes of the conference were reforming the social insurance system, safeguarding employment rights and designing a new outlook for industrial relations.

Priority areas

Wages and salaries

A resolution passed at the congress set among its main targets for the next three years demands for wage and salary increases, to achieve greater convergence with EU15 levels. It also encompasses the creation of a taxation system that will redistribute income for the benefit of workers.

Social protection

With respect to social security, one of GSEE’s principal claims relates to improved benefits for insured people through consistent state funding of the social insurance system and effective maximisation of its assets. At the same time, GSEE has rejected proposals to increase the retirement age and reduce pensions, while stressing the need to respect the European social and insurance acquis communautaire.

The trade union confederation has proposed measures that aim to assist unemployed people while increasing employment levels. These measures include: increasing unemployment benefits in terms of the length of time they are paid; reducing working hours without the loss of pay; introducing an obligation for companies to cover social insurance contributions for dismissed workers aged over 55 years; preparing and implementing development schemes through the public investment programme, for example, in areas faced with acute unemployment problems.

Industrial relations and labour legislation

With regard to the issue of industrial relations and labour legislation, GSEE maintains that the key aims of labour legislation should include: extending the concept of subordination, so that labour legislation covers categories of employees who are in the grey area between self-employment and economically dependent work; introducing strict criteria for recourse to flexible forms of employment; reinforcing the rights of people in flexible employment.

Law 3429/2005 on public utilities and services (a sector known as DEKO) has been decried as being ‘anti-worker’; GSEE insists that it intends to take industrial action if the employment and social insurance rights of DEKO employees are further undermined.

Equal treatment

In terms of immigration, GSEE has proposed that demands include the full transposition of EU legislation into the national legal framework concerning immigrants who have been in the country for a long time. In addition, the trade union confederation wishes to promote favourable regulations for second-generation immigrants.

The confederation is also proposing actions to eliminate discrimination in the workplace, for example through upgrading the Equal Treatment Commission and supporting bodies representing groups that are discriminated against. Moreover, it will be requesting increased support for working women and mothers – for instance, through more widespread all-day schools – as well as for young workers, who primarily bear the consequences of the introduction of flexible forms of employment.

GSEE has also taken a position on issues of broader social and political interest, such as social solidarity and equality, the welfare state, social dialogue, social bargaining and building social alliances. The confederation intends to work more closely and effectively with the European and international trade union movement, so that the social forces in Europe can design a new pact for development, innovation and employment.

New executive committee elected

On the last day of the GSEE congress, the confederation’s new executive committee was elected as follows:

• PASKE – the trade union faction of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (Panellino Socialistiko Kinima, (PASOK)) won 228 votes, securing 21 seats;

• DAKE – the trade union faction of the New Democracy party (Nea Dimokratia, ND)) won 134 votes, securing 12 seats;

• DAS – the trade union faction of the Greek Communist Party (Komounistiko Komma Elladas, KKE) won 104 votes, securing nine seats;

• Autonomous Intervention – the trade union faction of the Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos, SYN) won 31 votes, securing three seats.

Sofia Lampousaki, Labour Institute of Greek General Confederation of Labour (INE/GSEE)