The Congress of the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) for the private sector took place from 16 to 19 April, with PAME’s forces emerging significantly strengthened. In the elections for the Confederation’s new administration, the DAS list —comprising of trade unionists rallied in PAME alongside other vanguard militants— recorded a notable increase, the largest among all lists. DAS secured 26.57% of the vote (+3.60%) and 12 seats on the new administration (up from 11), once again becoming the second-largest force within the GSEE.
This marks the highest percentage achieved by DAS in recent decades, clearly demonstrating its leading role in workers’ struggles. The substantial rise of DAS in votes, percentages, and seats on the GSEE administration confirms the important steps being taken in the process of regrouping the trade union movement.
Despite the unfavourable correlation of forces that persists within the GSEE administration —largely the result of electoral fraud— the growth of DAS reflects the sustained efforts of thousands of vanguard trade unionists in the workplaces, as well as hundreds of unions that refuse to compromise with the logic of the “lesser evil”, fatalism, and passivity. They are at the forefront of the demanding process of organizing the working class into unions and advancing the struggle for its interests, free from the corrosive influence of social partnership and class collaboration. They play a leading role in the effort to shift the correlation of forces and strengthen the current that challenges the dominant policy, opposing the system of war and capitalist exploitation.
The encouraging rise of DAS forces builds on positive results in the country’s largest Labour Centres —in Athens, Thessaloniki, Piraeus, Patras, Larissa, Ioannina, Euboea, Livadia— as well as in major Federations.
The struggle continues from a stronger position, with all efforts directed towards the success of the 1 May strike, so that the streets of the country are flooded with strikers and the hopeful message of the organization, militant uplift and struggle is amplified, as reflected in the major nationwide PAME conference attended by 720 unions and 2,000 unionists —the largest ever held in the country.