Art. 22 of the Constitution recognises the right to form unions and associations. Furthermore, Art. 23 of the Constitution, referring to trade union freedom, establishes and secures the right to strike. BD 4204/61 and ND 4205/61 ratified ILO Conventions Nos. 87 and 98 concerning these rights. Greece has also ratified International Labour Convention 135 (Law 176/88) "On the protection of worker representatives at enterprise level".
The main legal instrument which regulates the formation, functions and activities of trade unions and defines, in detail, the relevant rights of employees is Law 1264/82. This law is complemented by the provisions of the Civil Code relating to unions and associations in general (Art. 61-107, as well as Art. 107 of its Introductory Law).
Trade unions are organised hierarchically on three levels (Law 1264/82):
- First-level unions consist mainly of associations. Associations may be formed by workers either of one enterprise or in the same occupation, locally or nationally. There are also a few general associations, constituted by workers in the same economic sector, independent of the enterprise they belong to or of their particular occupation.
- Second-level unions consist of "worker centres" and "federations". Worker centres are formed by several associations in the same region, while federations are formed by associations in the same sector.
- Third-level unions are confederations of workers centres or of federations and are national in character.
The first-level associations are organised independently with their own administration and character. They elect representatives to the federation or centre to which they belong.
To be legally recognised, an association requires a court decision and special registration. Its goal is to secure and improve the employment, economic, social and collective interests of its members. It may refer to all offices any matter concerning itself or its members, negotiate with employers and decide on a strike.
National associations may conclude collective agreements. Associations that are active in only one enterprise may conclude special collective agreements.
Confederations are those bodies which conclude national collective agreements.
There are currently some 3,500 associations, 120 federations, and 108 worker centres representing a total trade union membership of more than half a million workers. The national confederation is the Greek Trade Union Confederation (GSEE).
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