Belias, D., Kyriakou, D., Koustelios, A., & Varsanis K. (2015). Trade Unions Under Economic Crisis: Has Their Influence Weakened? The Greek Example. 4th Pan - Hellenic Conference on Applied Economics “ECONOMY & DEMOCRACY”. DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS. UNIVERSITY OF THESSALY. Volos, 23 - 24 November 2015

Trade unions have been battling on the side and for the employees and laborers throughout the years. History labor pages have been written all over the world through organised struggles for employee rights. Sometimes battles were won and in other cases were lost but common factor in both results was the mutual feeling of cooperation and the trust which were the intriguing factors that gave strength to labor struggles. Greek labor movement has been severely affected by the effects of the recent economic crisis. Labor laws have been cancelled or paused or altered towards the benefits of the employers according to the relevant MOU's signed from Greek governments and under the strict guides of the IMF and the EU, leaving the labor movement in state of 'clinical death' waiting for the 'doctors' to pull the plug. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the role that Trade Unions had and their organised behavior and strategy, if any, towards this political attack in employees rights in Greece whereas their active or passive position according to their leadership how it was perceived by their members.