Greek trade unionists attacked by Stalinist thugs.

EUTC Press Release:

International union deeply concerned at violence against Greek trade union

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) have expressed deep concern over a campaign of violence against the Greek national trade union GSEE, perpetrated by a minority Stalinist faction which is attempting to disrupt the GSEE’s work.

A series of attacks on the GSEE and a number of its structures culminated in an invasion at around 3am on 4 April by some 200 thugs of the Rhodes hotel where GSEE delegates were assembled for the GSEE’s 37th national conference where elections were due to take place. This caused the second postponement of the conference, after the first attempt to hold it on 15 March in Kalamata was also blocked by the minority group, PAME*.

The ITUC and ETUC condemn any and all violent attacks on trade unionists, which constitute a severe violation of the right to freedom of association and are anathema to the very principles of trade unionism.

We call on the Greek government to ensure that trade unions can operate in full freedom from physical violence and threats, including by fulfilling its responsibility to ensure public safety. The actions of the minority faction have meant that the GSEE has not been able to fulfil its obligations under its Constitution, necessitating the placement of the organisation under administration. This administration should respect the democratic mandate of the elected leadership of the GSEE and ensure that the organisation is able to continue its activities including the holding of democratic elections, without external interference.

Howie adds:

PAME is the All Workers Militant Front and associated with the ultra-Stalinist Communist Party of Greece. They are deeply sectarian towards other trade unions and the European Trade Union Confederation:

"Capitalists’ forces, Social democracy and Opportunism are coordinated through the mechanisms of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC-CES) and of ITUC-CSI. These organizations work for and work with Capitalism."

PAME sees rivals as class enemies in a classic "third period" analysis:

"The provocative intervention ofITUC-ETUC on the internal affairs of the Greek trade union movement is based only on their aim to maintain in the General Confederation of Greek Workers a leadership with practices of trade union mafia! A leadership that supported the anti-workers’measures and protected the multinationals of Greece against the unions and trade unionists who are really fighting for the interests of the workers. In their blind attempt to attack the militant, real workers’ trade unions in Greece, they did not even keep any pretexts."

The KKE (Greek Communist Party is a very old fashioned "Marxist-Leninist" party. Even their social attitudes hark back to a more repressive era. When they opposed same-sex marriage their opposition was surmised thus:

Rights and obligations arise within marriage, which is the legal expression of the social relations of the family. It includes social protection of children, who are biologically the result of sexual relations between a man and a woman.

With the formation of a socialist-communist society, a new type of partnership will undoubtedly be formed—a relatively stable heterosexual relationship and reproduction.

Charming people it would seem but unlike it's British equivalent is a large party with firm roots in Greek communities with a large trade union arm in the form of PAME. Currently they have 15 MPs in the Greek Parliament and even send two to the European Parliament. The danger of violence from this organisation is real.

Democracy and freedom of organisation would need to be defended against both the KKE and New Dawn. The far-right and far-left are a joint threat that must be forever watched and combated wherever they rear their ugly heads.