Constitution of the Greece Solidarity Campaign
Posted: October 24, 2012 Filed under: International, Politics, Society | Tags: Solidarity Campaign Leave a comment »UNITY TRUST http://www.unity.co.uk/upload/pdf/SE_App_form_Mar_2012.pdf
OUR PURPOSE
The Greece Solidarity Campaign (GSC) is an independent, non-governmental and non-party political organisation, established in response to an appeal by Tony Benn in February 2012 for solidarity with the people resisting ‘austerity’ in Greece.
The working people of Greece are being driven to poverty and mass unemployment by the demands of the so-called Troika – the European Union, the European Central Bank, and the International Monetary Fund – which has imposed Lucas Papademos, formerly of Vice-President of the ECB, as Prime Minister.
Greece is at the cutting edge of the austerity measures that are being introduced across Europe. All the evidence shows that while these measures may protect the interests of the rich, they just make matters worse for the majority of the population.
What happens in Greece today will be repeated in Portugal tomorrow, and in Ireland and Italy the day after. In Britain, the Coalition government is pursuing similar measures which will see workers earnings cut, working longer for a smaller pension, the marketisation of education and the dismantling of the NHS along with other public services.
The Greek people have shown mass resistance to these outrages and we commit to build a movement of solidarity with them.
OUR AIMS
- To develop practical acts in solidarity with Greek working people
- To support and celebrate the determined resistance by all those opposing ‘austerity measures’ in Greece.
- To provide information on the situation in Greece including debunking the myths about the causes of the crisis.
- To encourage conferences, meetings, discussions, lobbies, pickets, publications, media work, musical and cultural events.
- To encourage mutual contacts with Greece through delegations, twinning etc.
- To oppose governmental attempts to weaken trade unions and destroy collective bargaining.
- To work with solidarity organisations of Greeks resident in the UK and to link with similar anti-austerity campaigns across Europe.
- To defend Greece’s democracy, sovereignty and independence and support the right of the Greek people to determine their own future free from oppressive external intervention.
- To support and build activity around these objectives throughout Britain, within Parliament and local government, with trade unions, pensioners, students, faith groups, equality campaigns, cultural and political organisations, and social movement bodies.
OUR ORGANISATION
People or organisations affiliate to the Greece Solidarity Campaign on the basis of Tony Benn’s Appeal for Solidarity: http://www.coalitionofresistance.org.uk/2012/02/sign-the-appeal-for-solidarity-with-the-people-of-greece/.
The annual affiliation rates:
Supporter: Free
Affiliates: Individual Member (with voting rights): £12 (unwaged £6);
Local Organisation: £24; National Organisation: £48 minimum
The GSC has an Annual General Meeting (AGM) which is open to all members and acts as the ultimate GSC policy-making body.
The GSC has an Executive Committee of 15 elected members, elected at the AGM; in addition, each national affiliate has an entitlement to one representative on the executive body.
The GSC has a chair, secretary and such officers as may be determined by the Executive Committee and ratified by the AGM.
The GSC has an honorary President, and patrons as determined by the Executive Committee and ratified by the AGM.
PRO-TEM OFFICERS ELECTED at Wed 9 May 2012
Chair: Paul Mackney / Secretary: Rachel Newton
Assistant Secretary: Andrew Burgin
Vice Chairs: Nancy Kiousi & Eleni Stasinopoulou
Delegation Coordination: Andrew Burgin / Kate Hudson / Clare Solomon
Trade Union Officer: Bob Archer / European Liaison: Kate Hudson
