Greek postie: Austerity has torn us apart

Unemployment was at an all-time high, with more than 50 per cent of young people without a job, while wages had been slashed by up to 32 per cent.

"Through hundreds of legislative changes, the authorities are demolishing the institutional framework of industrial relations and have deregulated the labour market," he told delegates in Bournemouth.

"In public services, the state has violated all collective bargaining to reduce wages and abolished decades worth of national agreements.

"And in February, a new law on postal market was passed to begin the deregulation of our national postal service."

Mr Vasilopoulos blamed the government and the so-called troika agreement - the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the IMF.

But he said the labour movement in Greece was not taking it laying down - they have staged more than a dozen general strikes since the crisis hit.

"Despite the huge difficulties and attempts to discredit and marginalise trade unions, we have kept our power and influence among working people," he told conference.

"We're in the right. We have the power. The day will be ours!"

louise@peoples-press.com