In Greece, workers can join first-level trade unions. In turn, these trade unions can join both their sectoral federation and their local labour centre. Consequently, there are currently around 70 labour centres in Greece, effectively acting as unions of workers from various sectors within a given region.

One such important labour centre is the Labour Centre of Evia. Evia is the second largest island in Greece after Crete, and is notable for being very close to the Greek capital in Attica. It can also be reached from mainland Greece by bridge, not just by ferry. Evia is one of the areas of strategic importance for capital and the bourgeoisie’s plans for the development of the capitalist economy in a number of sectors. It is an energy production and transit hub, with heavy industry monopolies and large business groups in the food sector and elsewhere. The  island has experienced significant growth in tourism and construction capital, and it has shipyards and ports. As previously mentioned, it is also close to the capital region (Attica).

For the past three years, the relevant majority in the administration of the Evia Labour Centre (EKE) has been held by trade unionists who rallied around the ‘Militant Cooperation’ list, which is supported by the KKE. As a result, the EKE has developed important struggles and demands despite the obstacles put in its way by both the right-wing New Democracy and the social democratic forces (PASOK-SYRIZA), who are rightly characterized in Greece as forces of employer and government-led trade unionism.

During this period, steps were taken to encourage more unions to join the EKE and to establish new unions, to improve their functioning, to support mobilizations and demands in the workplace, to strengthen solidarity and to organize large strikes. One such strike was held in response to the crime in Tempe and was unprecedented in Evia for many decades.

The EKE has been very active, as a result of efforts by trade unionists and unions in Evia in recent years to regroup the labour movement. This was achieved through small, steady steps taken in workplaces and sectors, through building trust with workers, and through persistent, tireless work. In practice, the strengthening of the labour movement in Evia meant that the recent elections for the new EKE administration passed into the hands of the workers, despite the employer and government-led trade unionism’s efforts to prevent the elections by all means, including legal action. The class forces of the ‘Militant Cooperation’, supported by the KKE, won almost 59%  (up from 38% three years ago) electing nine members to the new administration and achieving an absolute majority. Meanwhile, the united list of right-wing and social democratic forces received 41% of the delegates and six seats.

This development is one of the important steps taken by the working class of Greece throughout the country in recent years.

For more information about the significance of the change in the correlation of forces in trade unions and mass organizations, you can read the relevant article by the IRS of the CC of the KKE at http://inter.kke.gr/en/articles/The-importance-of-the-work-of-the-communists-in-changing-the-correlation-of-forces-within-trade-unions-and-mass-organizations/ 

30.06.2025