Meeting with representatives of the neighbourhood committee in the huge working class district of Peristeri last night, one of over 40 similar committees throughout Athens. Similar to the neighbourhood assemblies that sprung up in Argentina ten years ago, this one was formed in 2000 but has grown massively since the start of the crisis in Greece, accelerated by the opposition to the extra tax on electricity.
They told me (only one of us left in Greece now!) how people are starting to organise themselves, including, crucially, at a rank and file union level in the workplaces. They’ll be showing me a lot of this this week, particularly in hospitals and schools, and taking me to another strong committee in the working class community of Nea Smyrni.
