Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU).

Dear colleagues,

Another year is coming to an end. Another year is added to the history of the WFTU and the world class-oriented movement. Another year made us cry and laugh, without losing not even for a moment our optimism for the best days to come for our class, thanks to our struggle and our firm political perception.

Making a brief assessment, as is usual at the end of each year, we will see that some things are repeated monotonously, but also new things are born, filling us with optimism for the future of the working class and popular strata.

In 2021, the inadequacy of this system to provide a solution to vital issues of humanity was revealed even more strongly. It was revealed that no matter how tearful the speeches of the political servants of the great multinationals are, they are not at all interested in the life and prosperity of the poor, the workers and the peasants, the women and the youth.

Since health and science serve the profitability of big capital, they can not deal with the pandemic properly and hundreds of thousands of people are still losing their lives due to COVID-19, due to the inadequacy of downgraded health systems, and not because the disease is invincible. In addition, to cover their own responsibilities, they skillfully try to divide workers, between vaccinated and non-vaccinated. But they have no answer for the millions of people in poor countries of the third world, that do not have access to vaccines due to financial weakness!

In 2021, we experienced once again the drama of refugees being used as a lever to pressure foreign policy of the states. They care very little about people drowning in the sea, or dying from landmines trying to cross borders and from hardship and diseases in hot spots. Their wars for the control of the wealth and the quest for new fields of profit are an unstoppable machine of misery.

In 2021 we faced the explosion of high prices in energy and in all basic goods, because as always the price of the economic crisis is paid by the peoples so that the big capitalists do not pay.

Repeated lockdowns have caused great losses in the world trusts and now they have to make up for the lost profits. Therefore, in the 21st century, even in the so-called countries of the first world, people are in danger of dying from the cold and from starvation!!!

In this framework, and despite the difficulty of distance meetings, the WFTU and the world class-oriented workers’ movement took action. Many seminars were held on issues that concerned and still concern workers around the world and mobilizations were organized on the occasion of every small or important issue of the working class in each country. The WFTU World Action Day on October 3 highlighted the timely demand of workers for a dignified life. International Campaigns for Palestine and international solidarity symposiums with Cuba and Venezuela were organized.

In 2021 significant strikes that resulted in the conquest of workers’ demands also took place. The repression and legislation that in many countries tried to put obstacles in trade union action did not discourage the workers, but instead increased their determination and militancy.

Finally, in 2021 with great sorrow we bid farewell to some historic cadres of the WFTU, whose contribution is invaluable. They were tireless fighters of the movement, always loyal to the WFTU and unwavering defenders of the class-oriented struggle. The World Federation of Trade Unions will always honor them and make sure that the next generations of workers in the world get to know their work and contribution.

So we enter 2022 with optimism and militancy, as befits the class-oriented movement. The coming year, apart from the strong challenges that it will bring for our organization, will also be a historic year, since the 18th World Trade Union Congress will take place. As always, this is a milestone in the global class-oriented workers movement, a celebration of the world working class, as well as an extremely important process in which the course of the WFTU is mapped out for the coming years. It is therefore very important in the new year for all WFTU members and friends to give their best so that this Congress is a success, worthy of the history and legacy of the WFTU.

The Secretariat of the World Federation of Trade Unions wishes its 105 million members and millions of friends from 133 countries around the world 2022 to be a good and militant year, a year that will contribute even more to our final goal of freeing humanity from exploitation of man by man. Because only then can we talk about real freedom, peace and prosperity.

Until the final victory!!!

#AthensGreece #WorldFederationOfTradeUnionsWFTU #WFTU

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU).

Dear colleagues,

Another year is coming to an end. Another year is added to the history of the WFTU and the world class-oriented movement. Another year made us cry and laugh, without losing not even for a moment our optimism for the best days to come for our class, thanks to our struggle and our firm political perception.

Making a brief assessment, as is usual at the end of each year, we will see that some things are repeated monotonously, but also new things are born, filling us with optimism for the future of the working class and popular strata.

In 2021, the inadequacy of this system to provide a solution to vital issues of humanity was revealed even more strongly. It was revealed that no matter how tearful the speeches of the political servants of the great multinationals are, they are not at all interested in the life and prosperity of the poor, the workers and the peasants, the women and the youth.

Since health and science serve the profitability of big capital, they can not deal with the pandemic properly and hundreds of thousands of people are still losing their lives due to COVID-19, due to the inadequacy of downgraded health systems, and not because the disease is invincible. In addition, to cover their own responsibilities, they skillfully try to divide workers, between vaccinated and non-vaccinated. But they have no answer for the millions of people in poor countries of the third world, that do not have access to vaccines due to financial weakness!

In 2021, we experienced once again the drama of refugees being used as a lever to pressure foreign policy of the states. They care very little about people drowning in the sea, or dying from landmines trying to cross borders and from hardship and diseases in hot spots. Their wars for the control of the wealth and the quest for new fields of profit are an unstoppable machine of misery.

In 2021 we faced the explosion of high prices in energy and in all basic goods, because as always the price of the economic crisis is paid by the peoples so that the big capitalists do not pay.

Repeated lockdowns have caused great losses in the world trusts and now they have to make up for the lost profits. Therefore, in the 21st century, even in the so-called countries of the first world, people are in danger of dying from the cold and from starvation!!!

In this framework, and despite the difficulty of distance meetings, the WFTU and the world class-oriented workers’ movement took action. Many seminars were held on issues that concerned and still concern workers around the world and mobilizations were organized on the occasion of every small or important issue of the working class in each country. The WFTU World Action Day on October 3 highlighted the timely demand of workers for a dignified life. International Campaigns for Palestine and international solidarity symposiums with Cuba and Venezuela were organized.

In 2021 significant strikes that resulted in the conquest of workers’ demands also took place. The repression and legislation that in many countries tried to put obstacles in trade union action did not discourage the workers, but instead increased their determination and militancy.

Finally, in 2021 with great sorrow we bid farewell to some historic cadres of the WFTU, whose contribution is invaluable. They were tireless fighters of the movement, always loyal to the WFTU and unwavering defenders of the class-oriented struggle. The World Federation of Trade Unions will always honor them and make sure that the next generations of workers in the world get to know their work and contribution.

So we enter 2022 with optimism and militancy, as befits the class-oriented movement. The coming year, apart from the strong challenges that it will bring for our organization, will also be a historic year, since the 18th World Trade Union Congress will take place. As always, this is a milestone in the global class-oriented workers movement, a celebration of the world working class, as well as an extremely important process in which the course of the WFTU is mapped out for the coming years. It is therefore very important in the new year for all WFTU members and friends to give their best so that this Congress is a success, worthy of the history and legacy of the WFTU.

The Secretariat of the World Federation of Trade Unions wishes its 105 million members and millions of friends from 133 countries around the world 2022 to be a good and militant year, a year that will contribute even more to our final goal of freeing humanity from exploitation of man by man. Because only then can we talk about real freedom, peace and prosperity.

Until the final victory!!!

#AthensGreece #WorldFederationOfTradeUnionsWFTU #WFTU

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU).

Dear colleagues,

Another year is coming to an end. Another year is added to the history of the WFTU and the world class-oriented movement. Another year made us cry and laugh, without losing not even for a moment our optimism for the best days to come for our class, thanks to our struggle and our firm political perception.

Making a brief assessment, as is usual at the end of each year, we will see that some things are repeated monotonously, but also new things are born, filling us with optimism for the future of the working class and popular strata.

In 2021, the inadequacy of this system to provide a solution to vital issues of humanity was revealed even more strongly. It was revealed that no matter how tearful the speeches of the political servants of the great multinationals are, they are not at all interested in the life and prosperity of the poor, the workers and the peasants, the women and the youth.

Since health and science serve the profitability of big capital, they can not deal with the pandemic properly and hundreds of thousands of people are still losing their lives due to COVID-19, due to the inadequacy of downgraded health systems, and not because the disease is invincible. In addition, to cover their own responsibilities, they skillfully try to divide workers, between vaccinated and non-vaccinated. But they have no answer for the millions of people in poor countries of the third world, that do not have access to vaccines due to financial weakness!

In 2021, we experienced once again the drama of refugees being used as a lever to pressure foreign policy of the states. They care very little about people drowning in the sea, or dying from landmines trying to cross borders and from hardship and diseases in hot spots. Their wars for the control of the wealth and the quest for new fields of profit are an unstoppable machine of misery.

In 2021 we faced the explosion of high prices in energy and in all basic goods, because as always the price of the economic crisis is paid by the peoples so that the big capitalists do not pay.

Repeated lockdowns have caused great losses in the world trusts and now they have to make up for the lost profits. Therefore, in the 21st century, even in the so-called countries of the first world, people are in danger of dying from the cold and from starvation!!!

In this framework, and despite the difficulty of distance meetings, the WFTU and the world class-oriented workers’ movement took action. Many seminars were held on issues that concerned and still concern workers around the world and mobilizations were organized on the occasion of every small or important issue of the working class in each country. The WFTU World Action Day on October 3 highlighted the timely demand of workers for a dignified life. International Campaigns for Palestine and international solidarity symposiums with Cuba and Venezuela were organized.

In 2021 significant strikes that resulted in the conquest of workers’ demands also took place. The repression and legislation that in many countries tried to put obstacles in trade union action did not discourage the workers, but instead increased their determination and militancy.

Finally, in 2021 with great sorrow we bid farewell to some historic cadres of the WFTU, whose contribution is invaluable. They were tireless fighters of the movement, always loyal to the WFTU and unwavering defenders of the class-oriented struggle. The World Federation of Trade Unions will always honor them and make sure that the next generations of workers in the world get to know their work and contribution.

So we enter 2022 with optimism and militancy, as befits the class-oriented movement. The coming year, apart from the strong challenges that it will bring for our organization, will also be a historic year, since the 18th World Trade Union Congress will take place. As always, this is a milestone in the global class-oriented workers movement, a celebration of the world working class, as well as an extremely important process in which the course of the WFTU is mapped out for the coming years. It is therefore very important in the new year for all WFTU members and friends to give their best so that this Congress is a success, worthy of the history and legacy of the WFTU.

The Secretariat of the World Federation of Trade Unions wishes its 105 million members and millions of friends from 133 countries around the world 2022 to be a good and militant year, a year that will contribute even more to our final goal of freeing humanity from exploitation of man by man. Because only then can we talk about real freedom, peace and prosperity.

Until the final victory!!!

#AthensGreece #WorldFederationOfTradeUnionsWFTU #WFTU

Athens, Greece – On Nov. 9, more than 170,000 workers in 64 cities across Greece took to the streets to fight government austerity measures, nuclear armament, and court rulings that make labor strikes in the country illegal. 18 U.S. trade unionists attending a week-long seminar with the World Federation of Trade Unions joined the demonstrations at Syntagma Square in the city center of Athens.

Talking to workers and protesters, the American delegates saw many parallels between their struggles at home and in those of their Greek brothers and sisters. Like U.S. workers, decent health care, safe working conditions, wages, pensions, stable work schedules and full time employment represented their top demands. These workers saw nothing in common between themselves and the bosses and politicians who sought to drive them into poverty and were ready to fight for their family and future. They urged us to do the same and to continue our struggles in workplaces across the U.S.

The demonstrations were called by PAME (All Workers Militant Front), the country's leading militant trade union organization and fierce opponent to the governing Party Syrizya's anti-worker platform. Syrzia rose to power under the guise of fighting austerity in the wake of the global financial crisis of 2008 but quickly bowed to the demands of the banks, attacking workers through wage and pension cuts, and failing to tax wealthy Greek industrialists. PAME is vowing to fight the most recent attacks and calling on union federations across Greece to prepare for a general strike, legal or not.

#AthensGreece #Athens #Labor #Greece #PAME #Europe

Thousands of small farmers, from all over Greece, met up with the trade unions of Athens and marched to the Parliament on Feb. 14 to protest the anti-people’s policy of the SYRIZA government and the European Union.

The farmers, who have created roadblocks all over Greece for more than three weeks, organized the national demonstration as an escalation of their struggle.

The All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) and the trade unions of Athens welcomed the farmers and confirmed their common struggle against the common enemy, the monopolies and the EU.

The farmers National Committee extended a call to all farmers to participate in the demonstrations of PAME, on Feb. 21, in many cities of Greece.

#AthensGreece #Greece #PeoplesStruggles #PAME #Europe

Workers-Farmers, one voice and one fist

Thousands of farmers flooded the centre of Athens, outside the Parliament building, on the 12th and 13th of February. The farmers are waging a struggle of economic survival and for over 20 days and nights have set up roadblocks at around 100 points on the national highways. At the initiative of 68 roadblocks, a decision was taken to hold a national farmers' demonstration in Syntagma Square in Athens.

It was decided to hold a demonstration as the next step to escalate the struggle of the small and medium farmers, in a meeting held a week ago in Nikaia, Larisa, where it was also decided to maintain and reinforce the roadblocks, to intensify their local activity, to reject every attempt by the government to set up a dialogue in order to manipulate the farmers' struggle without taking back any of the measures that are driving the small and medium farmers off the land.

Tens of thousands of farmers reached Athens by coach and ferry to demonstrate, while those gathered enthusiastically welcomed a symbolic number of 18 tractors, which had set out a day earlier from the country's biggest roadblock on the national highway at Nikaia (Larisa).The tractors that arrived after a 14 hour journey were bedecked with flags depicting Marinos Antypas (1872-1907), the socialist revolutionary who was murdered by the big landowners.

Representatives of many farmers' roadblocks and workers' trade unions spoke at the rally.

The two-day farmers' mobilization gained the support and solidarity of workers and other popular strata. The class-oriented unions, rallied in the All-workers' Militant Front (PAME), highlighted the need to strengthen the common struggle together with the farmers, to reinforce the alliance with the poor urban and rural popular strata. The success of the farmers' demonstration, in combination with the successful general strike on the 4th of February, creates better conditions for the escalation of the workers'-people's struggle, with the central demand being the withdrawal of the law-guillotine for the social security system.

As the presidents of the farmers' associations in the prefectures of Karditsa and Larisa noted, the struggling farmers will return to the roadblocks after the rally in Athens, where they will decide on the suitable forms for the further continuation of their struggle.

Statements of the General Secretary (GS) of the Central Committee (CC) of the KKE

Dimitris Koutsoumpas, the GS of the CC of the KKE, attended the national farmers' demonstration on Friday evening, 12th of February, and made the following statement:

“The farmers' demands are just. The struggle of the Greek farmers is just. We are at their side. The government must at last stop slandering the farmers' movement, the Greek farmers. They are fighting and struggling for decent lives for them and their families, so that they can remain in their fields and villages. So that they can live decently and produce the food necessary for the Greek people. Primary production, the agricultural economy must be supported, here and now.

The government after today's popular mobilization must withdraw the monstrous draft law that will destroy the social-security system. This bill cannot be improved or amended. If in the end they bring it before Parliament, it must be defeated. It must not push forward with the draft tax laws, which once more attack Greek farmers and the working people as a whole. On the contrary, it must abolish the crushing tax laws, all the anti-social security laws, to continue to provide free fuel, as it does to the ship-owners, so that the Greek farmer has cheap energy and can produce and feed the Greek people, being able to cover the costs of production, so that their families can live decently and proudly in the Greek villages and countryside. We, the workers, unemployed, all the other farmers who could not travel here today, the self-employed tradesmen, the youth, the women from the popular families are with them. We will continue until the victory. We wish everyone strength.”

The GS of the CC of the KKE, Dimitris Koutsoumpas, also attended the solidarity demonstration (Saturday the 13th of February) with the small and medium farmers organized by labour unions, federations and labour centres, rallied in PAME, and stated the following to the mass media:

“There is one message: Workers-farmers one voice, one fist. Workers, farmers, the urban self-employed, the pensioners, youth, women from the popular families, have common class interests against the class that exploits them, against the anti-people guillotine-laws, like the social security and tax bills, against the governments that vote for these laws, against the predatory alliances that suck our people dry. What we need now is a people's alliance and counterattack.”

#AthensGreece #Athens #Greece #PeoplesStruggles #KKE #CommunistPartyOfGreece #Europe

Dozens of trade unions, federations, and labor centers already responded to PAME’s call for a General Strike, against the Government’s plans to bring a new Bill on Social Security by the end of January.

The new bill is going to be added to the brutal anti-worker measures that were legislated during the summer. The new bill’s core will abolish completely the social character of Social Security. It confirms all anti-labor measures on social security, which were legislated by the previous liberal and social democratic Governments. In addition to the 11 pension cuts by the previous Governments, and the 2 cuts in pensions imposed by SYRIZA, they plan new cuts to all pensions.

The Syriza bill affects all workers in one stroke. It affects the existing and the future pensioners, as well as the young workers, as it transforms all healthcare and security rights to commodities making healthcare, not a right for all people, but a privilege for the few.

Against these developments, PAME called for the preparation of a General National Strike when the bill is brought forward in the Parliament. Just today, dozens of trade union organizations announced their participation and preparations for the General Strike.

On Friday, January 8, the trade unions are calling for a protest at the Greek Ministry of Labor.

We strengthen the struggle! We organize!

We will not let them destroy our lives!

We strengthen the preparation for a massive Strike!

January 5, 2016, Athens

#AthensGreece #Athens #Labor #Greece #Europe #PeoplesStruggles #AllWorkersMilitantFront

Thessaloniki, Greece – Workers of ZOURAS Food Industry who have been on strike since Nov. 14 received solidarity from around the world at a rally and workers' assembly on Dec. 6. The workers are demanding a collective bargaining agreement, back pay and the rehiring of laid off workers.

The striking workers received a donation of material support and a solidarity statement from a delegation of union activists from the U.S. who were in Greece for a labor seminar with the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU). The statement was first presented by Cherrene Horazuk, president of AFSCME Local 3800, at a meeting of trade unionists from the All Workers Militant Front (PAME) in Athens on Dec. 4.

PAME then delivered the material aid and U.S. solidarity statement to the strikers along with statements from trade unions from many other countries and from the Trade Union International of Food and Allied Industries of WFTU. The statements were delivered on Dec. 6 as the workers rallied and held a general assembly where they decided to continue their strike.

#AthensGreece #Athens #Greece #strike #AllWorkersMilitantFrontOfGreecePAME #Strikes #ZOURAS #Europe

Athens, Greece – On Dec. 1 a delegation of trade unionists from the U.S. met for several hours with George Mavrikos, the General Secretary of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU). Mavrikos presented the principles of the WFTU and explained the history of the union movement internationally. Then he answered questions and exchanged views on a variety of topics.

The World Federation of Trade Unions is one of two existing international trade union federations, with member unions on all continents representing 92 million workers in 126 countries. Mavrikos said that the basic principles of WFTU are class struggle unionism, internationalism, a commitment to not restrict union struggles only to workplace issues but also to struggle around larger political questions, and a commitment to struggle for a society without exploitation. WFTU unions are open to all workers who want to build class struggle, regardless of whether they are a member of any political party and without regard to nationality, religion, race, gender or anything else.

History of the international union movement

Mavrikos explained the history of the WFTU and a broad overview of the international union movement. From the 1700s there were efforts to unite unions in different countries. In 1848, a breakthrough happened with the formation of the International Workingmen's Association (the ‘First International’) by Karl Marx and many others leaders of the working class movement from that time. The Russian socialist revolution in 1917 inspired workers around the world, and as a result, in 1919 the Red International of Trade Unions was formed in Moscow, while in Amsterdam the International Federation of Trade Unions was formed by unions from capitalist countries that refused to work with unions that were pro-socialist. From that time until the end of World War II in 1945, the international union movement was basically divided on that basis.

When World War II ended and fascism was defeated by broad unity among the Allies, there were high hopes that workers could also unite worldwide to make progress for workers’ rights and conditions. That spirit of unity led to the founding congress of the World Federation of Trade Unions in October 1945 in Paris, to unite all trade unions around the world into one federation. It was attended by union federations from 56 countries representing 67 million workers. One of the very few major unions that refused to participate was the largest U.S. union, the American Federation of Labor (AFL). But the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) from the U.S. did participate, led by Sidney Hillman,

who was a founding vice-president of the WFTU. The AFL and CIO later merged in 1955.

At that WFTU founding congress the post-World War II spirit of unity started to fray quickly as the ‘Cold War’ was beginning. Many unions from capitalist countries in northern Europe refused to support the struggle against colonialism, while unions from colonized countries and the USSR thought it was necessary for the union movement to support the struggles of workers in colonized countries.

While there was struggle internally, from 1945 to 1949 the WFTU continued to be the only international union federation. Then in 1949 a struggle over whether to be for or against the formation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the Marshall Plan split the WFTU. The unions from the United Kingdom, the U.S. and other major capitalist countries split to form the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) which still exists as the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). From 1949 until 1990, the WFTU was the larger of the two federations. The ICFTU supported the policies of the capitalist governments.

With the collapse of the Soviet Union and Eastern European governments around 1990, the WFTU was weakened as most unions in the formerly socialist countries left to join the ICTU with the idea that they would try to change the ICTU from within to make it more progressive.

In 1994, at the 13th Congress of the WFTU, some suggested ending the WFTU but the majority of the unions including those from Greece, India, Cuba and South Africa disagreed and decided to continue the WFTU as a class struggle-oriented union federation firmly rooted in internationalism.

In 2006 the headquarters of the WFTU moved to Greece, where it continues to be today. The decision to continue the WFTU has borne fruit as the WFTU has grown and has strength on all continents.

WTFU today

Mavrikos said that today the WFTU is the only truly independent international union federation, since the ICTU receives support and funding from capitalist governments and international institutions while the WFTU does not. The WFTU takes positions against all imperialist wars and interventions, while the ICTU has supported imperialist wars and occupations in Syria, Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.

While pointing to the negative role that the national leaders of the U.S. unions played – in refusing to unite with unions from the rest of the world in the WFTU and in creating other divisions in the international union movement – Mavrikos was very clear in recognizing and supporting the historic and current struggles of the working class in the U.S. He noted that the workers’ movement in the entire world still celebrates May 1 as International Workers Day every year to honor the struggle of the working class in Chicago and the Haymarket martyrs who died fighting for the eight-hour work day.

Mavrikos told the U.S. delegation that the WFTU will hold its 17th Congress in 2016 in South Africa. The congress will be hosted by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), the main union federation there which was a leading force in the struggle to overthrow apartheid in South Africa.

#AthensGreece #Athens #Labor #Greece #PeoplesStruggles #WorldFederationOfTradeUnionsWFTU #Europe

Athens, Greece – More than 40,000 workers marched from Omonia Square to Syntagma Square in front of the Greek parliament Dec. 3 as part of a nationwide general strike against austerity measures.

The general strike was initiated by the All Workers Militant Front (PAME), Greece’s class struggle union. Other unions also mobilized. The strike had strong participation from Greece’s key industrial sectors including shipping and construction. Contingents of workers marched from many workplaces and sectors, along with large contingents of pensioners, the self-employed and students also participating. The march in central Athens was just one of more than 60 rallies that PAME organized all over Greece.

The strike today comes two days before the Greek parliament is scheduled to vote on the budget which includes draconian attacks on workers. The ‘troika’ of the European Commission, European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have imposed painful austerity measures on Greece for more than five years which have led to massive unemployment and perpetual economic crisis. The Greek government is now attempting to impose the third round of painful cuts demanded by the Troika.

Today’s strike protested the cuts, aiming to defend social security rights, protect pensions and demand the reinstatement of all losses that workers have suffered the previous years. It also responded to the new offensive that is being prepared against workers’ salaries and against even more massive layoffs.

Today’s strike comes two weeks after another nationwide general strike. PAME is calling on all unions and other sectors of society to escalate their resistance to stop the government’s anti-worker plans.

A delegation of U.S. trade unionists who are in Greece for a seminar with the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) attended PAME’s march to Syntagma Square and were warmly welcomed by the striking workers. According to Rafael Justo, a seminar participant from SEIU 1199 in New York, “The workers wanted to be out in the street. It didn’t take much to convince them to come out. They understand. I was very impressed by that.” Another seminar participant, Cherrene Horazuk, president of AFSCME 3800 from Minnesota said, “There are so few strikes taking place in the U.S. that many don’t realize the power that we have as workers. Today’s strike shut down transportation, malls, factories and shipping lines. It was awe inspiring to see the Greek working class standing up and fighting back in a massive way against austerity.”

See more photos of the general strike here: https://plus.google.com/+PamehellasGr/photos

#AthensGreece #Athens #Labor #Greece #Europe #PeoplesStruggles #generalStrike

Athens, Greece – A delegation of U.S. trade union activists in Greece for a seminar organized by the World Federation of Trade Unions met with leaders of PAME, the All Workers Militant Front, on Nov. 30. PAME, which represents more than 800,000 workers throughout Greece, was founded in 1999 in order to unite all workers and unions who want to fight for the betterment of the working class rather than making peace with the bosses.

Nikolas Theodorakis, International Secretary of PAME, told the U.S. delegation that the trade union movement has two choices: they can try to improve the situation of the working class by having a better relationship with employers, or they can choose to fight the employers. “In every country, whether the economy is improving or worsening, the attack on workers is expanding. We can respond by being class fighters or by being class collaborators. PAME organizes class fighters.”

Theodorakis told the delegation that as the economic crisis in Europe has worsened, particularly in Greece, there are many unions that have advocated for supporting the capitalists, saying that without bosses, there can be no work. The perspective of PAME has been firm: workers should not make sacrifices for capitalist profitability. PAME fights against extreme austerity and anti-union measures that are devastating the Greek population. These include an incredibly high unemployment rate, huge cuts in the public sector, legislation that basically abolishes a minimum wage, and numerous legal challenges to the right to strike.

PAME carried out a successful general strike on Nov. 12 in opposition to austerity measures that have resulted in extreme poverty and unemployment – the youth unemployment rate stands at more than 50%. PAME has called for another general strike on Dec. 3, two days before the government vote on the budget. The strike is in opposition to the following anti-worker measures being proposed by the Greek government:

- Raising the retirement age to 67 - Drastic pension cuts, pensions would only be available after 40 years of continuous employment - Increased flexible working situations, which is exacerbating the extreme youth unemployment rate - Abolishing the employer contribution to health care - Abolishing coverage of numerous medical procedures that benefit pregnant women and mothers - Drastic cuts to the Social Security (National Health) Plan

The U.S. delegation met with the strike organizing committee, which includes representatives from multiple labor sectors and geographic areas, to hear about the strike demands and organizing effort. The delegates will have the opportunity to see the plans for the general strike to be put into action on Dec. 3.

#AthensGreece #Athens #Greece #WorldFederationOfTradeUnions #AllWorkersMilitantFrontOfGreecePAME #Europe

Athens, Greece – Founded in the struggle against fascism during World War II, the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) continued the celebration of its 70th Anniversary by welcoming a delegation of trade union activists from the U.S. to its headquarters in Athens, Greece on Nov. 29. WFTU General Secretary George Mavrikos told the Americans that the WFTU is oriented to the working class. He spoke of how at the last WFTU Congress, the 828 delegates representing 90 million workers debated and discussed ideas of how to move the class struggle forward in the interests of working people.

“This is where the unions that really want to fight the boss come,” said AFSCME Local 3800 President Cherrene Horazuk. “The delegation here from the U.S. is eager to learn from our sisters and brothers fighting our common enemies in other parts of the world.”

General Secretary Mavrikos marked the occasion by presenting awards to the artists who had won a contest to design the WFTU 70th anniversary poster. The winner was Walter Diaz Moreno of Cuba, but Mavrikos explained how the Canadian government had refused to allow Brother Moreno to change planes in Canada because the layover would last five minutes longer than the three hour maximum established by Canada at the behest of the U. S. government.

Awards were also presented to artists from South Africa, Brazil, Bahrain and Greece. In accepting her award, Nada Naji Ali from Bahrain unfurled the banner of her labor union, ALBA, saying how proud she was of her union.

“It is an honor as an American trade unionist to be with a sister from a fighting labor organization in the Middle East,” said WFTU Representative for the U.S., Frank Goldsmith, “I congratulate all the winners, but I especially congratulate the WFTU and all its affiliated unions on 70 years of class struggle unions.”

In the coming days the delegation from the U.S. will meet with union leaders from Peru, Vietnam, Palestine, Cyprus and Greece. The delegation is also looking forward to observing and learning from the upcoming general strike against austerity planned by the Greek WFTU-affiliated union PAME (All Worked Militant Front) on Dec. 3.

#AthensGreece #ClassStruggle #Greece #WorldFederationOfTradeUnions #WFTU

No to the new “leftwing” memorandum

The government of “leftwing” SYRIZA and nationalist ANEL, with the support of the rightwing ND, the social-democratic PASOK (who governed together until January 2015), the centre party POTAMI, is thrusting new unbearable anti-people burdens onto the working class and other popular strata.

On the night of the 10th of July, it placed before the full plenum of the parliament the question of “authorizing” the government to negotiate a new, 3rd memorandum of anti-people measures, posing the following dilemma: the continuation of the anti-people political line or the country’s bankruptcy and an exit from the eurozone.

The Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras defended his memorandum, the Tsipras-memorandum, arguing in essence that the anti-people measures are being taken n order to regain the confidence of the investors and markets.

At 5 in the morning 251 MPs votes for the government’s proposal, while the entire Parliamentary Group of the KKE voted against it. As a whole there were 32 against, 8 who voted “present” and 9 who were absent.

These developments, which reveal once again the true face of the “left-patriotic” government of SYRIZA-ANEL, also expose the unacceptable stance of various forces abroad in recent months, which supported the government, including some communist and workers’ parties, allegedly in the name of “solidarity with Greece”.

Speaking in the full plenum of the Parliament, during the discussion regarding the provision of “authorization” for the government to agree to the new, 3rd memorandum, the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the KKE, Dimitris Koutsoumpas, addressing the government stressed: “You were always supporters of political amorality, opportunism, which literally and without its deeper theoretical dimension simply means being opportunistic and adventurist.

Just 10 days ago, in this very hall, during the discussion of the proposal for the referendum, the KKE clearly pointed out to you that you were calling on the people to take part in a referendum with a “yes” or “no” that only had superficial differences, as both the “yes” and the “no” meant the acceptance of a new memorandum, perhaps worse than those we have already seen.

You adjusted the “no” of the people to a “yes” for the new memorandum.

Something that was confirmed the very day after the referendum, when the rest of the political parties, those that supported a “yes” and those that supported a “no” agreed to a new memorandum which will be even harsher.

We were certain from the beginning that this would happen.

Not because we are soothsayers, but because your strategy, but because your programme, your position towards the EU, eurozone and the capitalist unions in general, your position regarding the development path and system that you want to serve, inevitably lead to you to struggle at the side of the EU, ECB, IMF, big capital, the monopoly groups, over how the division of the spoils will be conducted, how you will serve their profitability, how in the end you will reduce the people’s income, how you will economically reduce the price of labour power, how you will suck the people dry, so that the parasites of the system will prosper.”

The General Secretary of the Central Committee of the KKE, in reference of the government’s dilemma “anti-people agreement, i.e. memorandum, or Grexit” stressed that: “The 3rd memorandum will also mean the real bankruptcy of the people. Of course in a somewhat more organized way. We will have barbaric anti-people measures. With the Grexit we will see a rapid pauperization, the people’s bankruptcy together with state bankruptcy, without a way out, still trapped inside the walls of the EU, inside the same old capitalist development path.

This is why all the other parties bear historic responsibilities, especially SYRIZA which is in government today and was trusted by the people.

A real way out from the crisis and development in favour of the workers’-people’s interests require the organization of the people, their full preparation, honest talk, clear programmes and positions so that the people themselves decide to take power and to organize the economy and new society, outside and far away from the imperialist unions, with central planning, with social ownership of the wealth produced by the working class and our people.

All the other options are the failed experiments in social-democratic management, allegedly leftwing governments that manage the system, inside the framework of capitalism, and which after spreading fleeting hopes and false expectations lead the people to great disillusionment, the labour movement to retreat and strengthen conservative and even extremely reactionary trends among the popular forces.”

In reference to the entanglement of the “Greek issue” in the inter-imperialist contradictions, D. Koutsoumpas noted that: “You often present the “cruel” Schauble as the only opponent, Schauble who represents an important section of German capital, and that the friends of Greece from time to time are the USA and the IMF, and now France, focusing on the issue of the restructuring of the state debt.

Neither US or French or German capital are the friends of the people. They all demand the slaughter of the people’s rights and income. The competition between them is being conducted on the terrain of the capitalist crisis and the deep unevenness that permeates the hard core of the Eurozone. The USA and Germany are competing for hegemony in Europe. The IMF, France and Germany over the future of the eurozone. Sections of domestic capital, industrialists, banking and shipping groups are involved in this confrontation.

As long as we are involved in this dangerous web of contradictions all the alternatives will be a nightmare for the people: either the anti-people agreement/memorandum or a state default or a Grexit or even a possible war in the wider region.”

The General Secretary underlined the following as regards the future developments:

Despite the temporary compromise the tendency for the expulsion of countries remains strong. This does not concern merely Greece but all indebted countries and even those which are candidates to join the euro.

The people must not choose between their bankruptcy under the Euro or a bankruptcy under the Drachma.

A decisive solution in favour of the people requires a true rupture that has nothing to do with the fake rupture that certain forces within SYRIZA invoke when they defend the exit of Greece solely from the Eurozone.

Those who claim –including forces of SYRIZA, as well as other nationalist, reactionary forces from another standpoint– that the exit of Greece from the Eurozone, with a depreciated currency, will give impetus to competitiveness and growth and will have positive consequences for the people, are deliberately deceiving the people.

The prospect of Greece as a capitalist country with a national currency does not constitute any rupture in favour of the people. Those political forces that promote this goal as a solution or an intermediate goal for radical changes (such as the “Left Platform of SYRIZA, ANTARSYA as well as other ultra right, fascist forces in Europe) are actually playing the game of certain sections of capital.

So we will not choose whether we will go bankrupt under the Euro or the drachma, under an internal or external devaluation.

For this reason we do not choose between a memorandum and a Grexit.

Because there is an alternative solution if the people struggle for a rupture with the EU, capital and their power.

For example, we can abolish the EU commitments which have caused stagnation in domestic production, from sugar and meat to shipbuilding and many other sectors.

We can utilize the contradictions between the imperialist centres and achieve international agreements of mutual benefit for Greece under people’s power, which will be disengaged from the EU and NATO.

We can pave the way for the satisfaction of the people’s needs if we proceed to the socialization of monopolies, the means of production with scientific nationwide planning of economy”.

Finally, D. Koutsoumpas noted that the KKE called on the working people to organize their counterattack in the streets and the workplaces against the new destructive measures.

In the afternoon of the same day (Friday 10th July) PAME organized mass rallies in Athens and other major cities throughout the country against the 3rd (“leftwing”) memorandum of anti-people measures. The demonstrations were joined by trade unions, People’s Committees, Women’s Associations and Groups, mass organizations and Struggle Committees of self-employed and craftsmen as well as students i.e. by those who are being attacked by the measures of the coalition government. All of them declared: “enough! There is another path in favour of the people”.

D. Koutsoumpas who participated in the mass rally of PAME in Athens stated: “we cannot waste any more time. The working people must organize their struggle, promote their demands and organize the people’s alliance”.

#AthensGreece #Athens #Greece #PeoplesStruggles #WorkersAndGlobalization #austerity #CommunistPartyOfGreece #Socialism #Europe

MURDERERS AND HYPOCRITES

The World Federation of Trade Unions representing 90 million workers in 126 countries of the world expresses its grief and frustration for the tragedy that took place in the Mediterranean resulting to the death of hundreds of immigrants and refugees on April 19th, 2015.

The deaths of hundreds of people in the Mediterranean and particularly South of Italy are added to the long list of immigrants finding their death looking for a better livelihood while being exploited by smugglers.

However, these are not accidents, they are crimes. Immigrants and refugees were forced to this position by the imperialist policy of NATO, of USA and of the European Union, by their aggressiveness and intervention in Libya, in Syria, in Iraq, in Mali, in Yemen etc., by the policies of the multinationals and the plundering of the natural resources of the people in Africa and the Middle East, by the destruction and manipulation of the countries’ economies and finally by the inhumane policy of the European Union and its Governments against the migrant workers.

With anger and frustration we listen to the Heads of the Governments in Italy, in France, in Greece and other EU countries expressing their sorrow for the incident and repeating generic phrasing for “a new policy” while their countries Governments have fully supported the imperialist wars actively and while they have co-signed and fully implemented the policy of the European Union against the immigrants and refugees.

That makes them both Murderers and Hypocrites!

The World Federation of Trade Unions with its anti-imperialist and internationalist position and action denounces the murderous and hypocritical policy of the European Union and its Governments and struggles for the elimination of the aggressiveness against the people of North Africa and the Middle East, for the dissolution of NATO and for the utilization of the natural resources by the people for their own interests and for the popular development that will bring the reconstruction and the prosperity of the people.

We demand the immediate end of all imperialist interventions. We ask from the International Organizations to support the countries of origin of economic immigrants and of the political refugees.

The phenomena or racism, neofascism and xenophobia must be fully confronted.

We express our condolences to the families of the victims who lost their lives in the Mediterranean Sea.

THE SECRETARIAT

#AthensGreece #PeoplesStruggles #immigrantRights #WorldFederationOfTradeUnionsWFTU

In the eastern Mediterranean, the Middle East, the North Africa the dangerous developments, the conflicts and the competition between the various imperialist compounds are targeting the petroleum of Libya, the natural gas of the countries in North Africa and the control of strategic points rich in raw materials. We have seen the military aggression of the imperialists against Libya. In Swaziland the government responded brutally against the peaceful demonstrations by its own citizens, demanding a democratic government to rule in the genuine interests of all the citizens of that country.　 In Algeria, the regime showed once again its true face with the state violence used against the demonstration of the Algerian people against the poverty, the rising unemployment and the high prices of the daily essentials, the lack of freedom and the rising oppression. In Egypt, we have seen the people struggling for democracy, freedom and justice against the policy and tactics of the USA, trying to control the developments and to place their new tools, their new puppets in the leadership of the Egyptian State. In Tunisia, the growth goes hand in hand with the complete lack of freedom, the persecution of progressive people and every other voice of contradiction, the poverty, the high unemployment rate, the social injustice and the high prices of the daily essentials.

In the Middle East the torment of the heroic Palestinian, Lebanese and Syrian peoples continue by Israel, with the substantial support of the USA, the European Union and its allies. In Bahrain, the government declared a martial law against the people and working class of Bahrain, who are struggling for democracy, freedom and justice and to stop the plundering of the resources of the country by capitalists, kings and emirs.

In Asia the picture is no better: in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, the USA and the European imperialists are continuing their occupation and military operations. The deadly floods in Pakistan and the deadly tsunami in Japan are another proof that the people of the world are unprotected against the natural phenomena, despite the technological breakthrough.

In the USA the situation is also complicated. In North America, unemployment and poverty are growing. The official unemployment rate in the U.S. is currently 9.5% – 10.2 million Americans are now receiving unemployment benefits.

Latin America feels the aggressiveness of North America. Slander and attacks against the heroic Cuban Revolution, attacks against Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, the occupation in Haiti, support for the dictatorship in Honduras. In Colombia, in the last five years, hundreds of trade unionists have been assassinated and the country is being transformed into an American military base. In Chile, the tragic accident occurred at San Jose mine and the crime committed against the miners. In Brazil, the devastating floods caused death to innocent lives.

But also in Europe, capitalism creates and multiplies the problems. Unemployed workers in the countries of the European Union number millions. In Europe, the official unemployment rate has reached 9.3%, with unemployment having risen at 20.7% for young workers between the ages 15-24. Privatizations, the undermining of social security and the reduction of wages and pensions are a common strategy of all the European Governments, both neoliberals and socialdemocrats. The Lisbon Treaty shows the reactionary attitude and the real role of the European Union.

To this policy of the capital and the imperialists, the global working class is responding with initiatives and struggles all over the world. Millions of strikers with the participation of youth, women and migrant workers have provided a new dynamic and fresh hopes.

The WFTU has always been ahead in the front line of struggle! There is no corner of the world where the WFTU has not been present, standing on the side of the weak, always on the side of the peoples, alongside with the working class, in the struggles against capitalist exploitation.

We strengthen the international class-oriented trade union movement on the path indicated by the 16th Congress of WFTU. The decisions of this historic Congress that took place in Athens, Greece on the 6-10 April 2011 open new roads, new horizons and new prospects for the global working class.

During the four days of the congress works that followed,　115 speakers from the five continents and the basic sectors took the floor. All the acute, contemporary problems of the working people, the poor farmers, the self-employed, the youth, the women, the pensioners and the landless were discussed. Resolutions that strengthen the class-oriented character of the WFTU and aim for the strengthening of the international trade union movement have been voted.

Today WFTU is stronger, more militant, more united, more capable to continue the struggle with class unity and a militant perspective, against the policies of the monopolies and the multinationals that create poverty for the many and big profits for the few. For a World without exploitation from man to man.

Long Live workers May Day!

Proletarians of all countries unite!

#AthensGreece #MayDay #internationalWorkersDay #May1 #WorldFederationOfTradeUnions

*Fight Back!* interviewed Cherrene Horazuk, a U.S. delegate to the 16th Congress of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) held April 7- 10 in Athens, Greece. Horazuk is prominent Minneapolis trade unionist and a spokesperson for the Minnesota Committee to Stop FBI Repression.

**Fight Back!:** Could you tell our readers what the congress was like?

**Cherrene Horazuk:** The congress was incredibly inspiring. There were trade unionists from around the world who were all committed to building an international labor movement that is open, democratic and unified and that challenges capitalism and builds a fighting working class. Over 800 delegates attended from more than 100 countries, and there was simultaneous translation into five different languages: English, Spanish, French, Arabic and Greek. Speakers gave reports about the situation in their country – workers around the world are facing very similar attacks.

It was great to be part of a group of union leaders that clearly recognize that the global economic crisis isn't the fault of the working class and therefore workers shouldn't have to pay for the crisis the corporations and the rich created.

**Fight Back!:** What were the big issues the congress focused on?

**Horazuk:** The congress focused on the following points. The first is that we, the working class won't pay for the capitalists’ crisis. There was a great deal of discussion about the need to fight back against the austerity programs that are being forced on workers all over the world.

Speaker after speaker reiterated the need to go on the offensive, and not just organize defensive battles. There was also a lot of discussion about the need to involve women and younger workers in the union movement. About 30% of the participants were women and a very dynamic women's workshop happened. The other main message that people raised repeatedly was opposition to imperialist wars abroad. There was uniform condemnation of the U.S. and NATO for bombing Libya as well as strong calls for an end to military aggression in the Middle East, Afghanistan and Colombia.

**Fight Back!:** Do you have any impressions of the Greek labor movement?

**Horazuk:** PAME, the All Workers Militant Front of Greece, is one of the main forces within the WFTU, and with good reason. They are incredibly strong and energetic. They have led very successful general strikes in the past year and have built a base of members that is fired up to fight back against the economic attacks. It is clear that they are a force to be reckoned with. The opening ceremony of the WFTU Congress included a rally with at least 3000 PAME members, who were continually singing, waving flags, and chanting: “The enemy is one – imperialism! Capitalism is not our world. It's the new world, socialism! The worker's right is our law and not the capitalist's profit! Come on people, don't give up, the only way is to resist and fight!” It was incredibly motivating and inspiring.

**Fight Back!:** You raised the issue of the FBI and grand jury repressions against U.S. labor, anti-war, and international solidarity activists. What was the response?

**Horazuk:** A lot of the speeches at the Congress expressed solidarity with people's struggles around the world and people clearly recognized the need for workers around the world to act in solidarity with each other. Given that perspective, everybody I spoke to about the repression was very interested in the case. They were shocked at the attacks against the activists who have done nothing wrong and [they] were outraged that political beliefs and international solidarity are being criminalized by the U.S. government. They conveyed their solidarity with the individuals who have been subpoenaed and committed to take action to stop the repression.

#AthensGreece #AthensAT #Greece #Interviews #CherreneHorazuk #WorldFederationOfTradeUnionsWFTU #AllWorkersMilitantFrontOfGreecePAME

This is the largest WFTU Congress, with participants from nearly 100 countries, including 13 observers from the United States. They were joined at the opening ceremony by more than 3000 workers from Greece for a political and cultural event that featured working class songs from around the world, thunderous chants and slogans of international solidarity and a video celebrating the 65-year history of the WFTU. The WFTU is a grouping of trade unions from more than 100 countries with a membership of more than 70 million workers. Its aim is to build a militant, class-oriented, internationalist, democratic trade union movement.

A highlight of the opening event was the speech by WFTU Secretary General George Mavrikos, where he discussed the conditions the people of the world are facing. On the one hand, the deep economic crisis of the capitalist system and the escalating war against workers has caused massive unemployment, misery, poverty and migration. Around the world, capitalist governments, in facing the insurmountable difficulties in managing the crisis, have launched an unprecedented attack on the labor rights and achievements that have been won through years of workers struggles. Salaries, social security and collective union contracts are all under attack. Unemployment and poverty are on the rise. Privatization of health, education and other services are being carried out all over.

The working class around the world has strongly resisted these anti-labor initiatives, with protests, massive strikes and other events. WFTU unions organized protests in April, 2009 in 45 countries and in September, 2010, mobilizations were held in 56 countries, under the slogan, “We will not pay for their crisis.” In New Delhi, alone, more than one million people participated.

Mavrikos called on participants to soundly condemn the imperialist aggression and wars being carried out around the world, including the current bombing of Libya. The imperialists claim that they are protecting civilians, when their real interest is controlling the oil fields and gaining access to sub-Saharan Africa and its great mineral wealth.

In closing, Mavrikos asked event participants, “What type of international trade union movement does the global working class need? A movement that is compatible and allied with the capitalist system to ‘modernize it?’ Or a movement that will represent the working class and its allies and will be in conflict with the capitalists to overthrow the exploitation system? A movement that will support the imperialist wars in Iraq, in Afghanistan, in Libya, in Yugoslavia? Or a movement that is against imperialist and unjust wars, and that will struggle for peace and friendship among all people?

A movement that seeks to unite the working class to cooperate with the monopolies and multinationals in the line of class collaboration? Or a movement which will follow the line of class struggle and unite the entire working class based on its class interests?

A movement that support’s Israel’s policy, which slanders Cuba, defames Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Iran and North Korea? Or a movement of proletarian internationalism that is firmly on the side of Palestinian people to have its own homeland, to support the Cuban revolution and defend the right of every people to decide alone on the present and future?

“A movement of bureaucratic elite with luxurious offices and rich salaries? Or a movement whose local, national and international leadership are identified with the working class, poor peasants, youth, women, immigrants and indigenous peoples?”

To resounding applause by all present at the opening ceremony, Mavrikos stated, “For the WFTU, our answer is clear: We continue the path of class struggle, against imperialism and capitalism. For a world without exploitation of man by man. For a future world that belongs to workers!”

#AthensGreece #Athens #Greece #classStruggleUnionism #WorldFederationOfTradeUnions #WFTU