We demand the life we deserve, a life with modern rights based on our time, a better future for us and our children.

Two weeks have passed since the crime in Tempe, Larissa and the country is shaking with anger and daily struggle. The strike on March 8 that shook every city in the country with the pulse of the workers and youth, the big rallies, the daily mobilizations, the banners in schools, neighborhoods, stadiums are the best answer to those who try to hide the crime and to shake off all responsibility.

The demand not to cover up the crime in Tempe means to strengthen now the struggle against the system of profit, its state and its governments. This means that the whole country to go on halt again on Thursday March 16, the day of a nationwide General strike.

PAME called on all trade unions, the National Federations, the Regional Trade Union Centers, the base level unions, to take into their hands the preparation for the success of the strike on 16 March! To make use of every second, to work night and day to reach every workplace, the factories, the yards, the ports, the shops, the hotels.

Let Thursday’s strike become a volcano of struggle that the voice of those killed in the murderous trains to be heard all over the country!

Their profits – Our dead!

The days pass, but nothing can erase the real responsibilities of the murder in Tempe! It is now clearer that the cause of treating human life as fuel for the profitability of business groups is not some personal oversight or a simple human error.

The culprit is the state of the few, the policy of commercialisation that degrades human life and weighs it in the cost-benefit ratio, where the cost is the life of the people and the benefit is the profits of the business groups.

We have around us more ‘valleys of the Tempe’!

All these days, there is a growing concern in the minds of many workers from every sector, from every workplace.

Is it modern and normal for our lives to be characterized by the phrase “we go and whatever happens”? To start our shift with our lives on the line? The dozens of workplace “accidents”, i.e. the employer crimes that are on the increase, have the same cause as the crime in Tempe. The profits of the few! Our safety, the protection of human life is being squeezed to the limits of corporate profitability. Low “cost” is the cheap worker, the worker who works without protection measures, the worker whose access to the public and free health care system is made more difficult, who is pushed to the private clinics for his health.

In the system of profit and exploitation, “good” transport is the expensive transport with the lowest possible wage costs. This is why behind the windows of the “silver arrows” on the Greek railways, the telecommand system was non-existent, layoffs and retrenchment of workers led to cuts in safety and intensification of work, with outsourcing escalating (e.g. cleaners). These are now coming to light despite persistent warnings from workers and their unions.

We do not fit a life where protection comes at a cost, dignity will lie between evictions and auctions of homes, wage raises-breadcrumbs which force us to cut even basic necessities. We must not accept a future that is being prepared for a life of living on coupons and dying on a one-way ticket.

You count profits and losses – We count human lives!

Not only is it not modern but it’s outrageous to count 2 more dead, young workers in the last 10 days and this passes in silence. We cannot accept living in agony whether we will return on two feet back to our families because in modern ghettos, intensification is harvesting deaths along with occupational diseases, which are on the increase due to the lack of health and safety measures.

Questions have been raised especially in the last few days about the simple things that are not taken for granted. Where are the emergency exits in stations, in workplaces? What escape plan is there in large workplaces in case of natural disasters? Where are the famous occupational physicians in large factories, in logistics, in large shopping centers, in workplaces where large numbers of workers are concentrated? The lack of safety measures seems to exist in all transport, in buses, trolleybuses, metro, trams, ferries, airports! This is what the unions in these sectors have been denouncing for years. Now they must be listened to, now immediate action must be taken to ensure that human lives do not become mere numbers.

The experience of the last 12 years and the tragic disasters that have put their stamp on this course of capitalist barbarism confirm that there are no “messiahs”! Our lives are worth living and we want them safe for ourselves and especially for our children! Dozens are the young people who “didn’t make it”. We will not let it pass!

It is a debt for every worker, every young person and youth, to continue to demand the obvious: The crime must not be covered up!

To strengthen the struggle for:

• Modern, safe, cheap mass transport against the policy that puts the safety of passengers and the rights of workers in the balance of the costs and profitability of business groups.
• The strengthening of the public and free health care system
• Immediate flood, fire and earthquake protection measures. Control here and now of earthquake armoring in schools, colleges, hospitals, workplaces.
• Immediate measures to protect health and safety in all workplaces.
• Recruitment of permanent staff in health, education, social services, civil protection services
• Let the whole country STOP again on Thursday!

EVERYONE ON STRIKE!

#Greece #Labor #generalStrike #Europe

The World Federation of Trade Unions, which represents 105 million affiliates in more than 130 countries around the world, expresses its solidarity with the workers of France who are called for a general strike and demonstrations throughout the country on Thursday January 19, 2023 against the Macron government’s plan to raise the legal retirement age to 64.

The WFTU recalls that the French Social Security, which is an achievement resulting from the workers’ resistance against the Nazi occupation and which was set up by Ambroise Croizat, the CGT leader and communist Minister of Labor at the Liberation, is far from being in bankruptcy.

It is put in financial difficulty by the exemptions from huge social security contributions that the Macron government grants to the big capitalist monopolies.

The WFTU trusts in the great combativeness of the workers of France and their class struggle unions, which are many of its affiliates, to defeat this government attack as they did during the historic general strike from December 2019 to March 2020, when the Macron government had to withdraw its unjust reform.

As usual, the WFTU and its affiliates from the 5 continents will support the struggle of the workers of France until victory!

#France #AntiwarMovement #generalStrike #WorldFederationOfTradeUnionsWFTU #WFTU

The strike was organized by some of the largest communist and socialist-led mass organizations and trade unions, such as Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA), All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC), Trade Union Coordination Centre (TUCC), All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), Labor Progressive Federation (LPF) and United Trade Union Congress (UTUC).

The general demands of the organizations are:

1. The Four New Labor Codes and the Essential Defense Services Act (EDSA) be scrapped. These new labor codes, which are to replace the previous 29 laws, call for reducing the rights of workers, especially defense production units, from protesting against privatization of public sector units. These codes also increase contractual work, reduce fixed wages and increase working hours. They also reduce the effectiveness of agencies that monitor the structure of companies and that report on the exploitation of workers.
2. Acceptance of the demands of the farmers’ organizations. In the last months of 2021, farmers won a major victory against the BJP government to repeal the anti-farmer laws. Their demands now are that the Minimum Support Price be raised the Electricity Amendments Bill be withdrawn, as well the general attacks on farmers discontinue.
3. The proposal for the National Monetization Pipeline (NMP) be abandoned. The NMP seeks to privatize most public sector units such as electricity, railways, and other infrastructural organizations. The privatization of these units will make basic necessities more unaffordable and alienate the working population of India.
4. A minimum of Rs. 7500 per month for low-income families. COVID-19 and its delta variant destroyed the local economies of India, and increased poverty, as well as increased starvation. Poor planning from the BJP government furthered the destruction of these communities. This demand will help people temporarily escape from this extreme situation.
5. Larger allocation of rural and urban sector jobs.
6. Social guarantees for informal sector workers. These guarantees will help nearly 400 million workers who work in the informal sector of India, and this help them get allowances, health care benefits etc.
7. Minimum wages and social security coverage for 6 million Anganwadi [village child care] workers, ASHA [accredited social health activists], mid-day meal and other scheme workers who work in child and infant care sectors, whose lives and incomes have been destroyed during the pandemic.
8. Provide full protection, and insurance coverage, for frontline workers serving the people in the midst of the pandemic.
9. Larger spending on health, education agriculture and other public sector utilities, as well as increased resource allocation to revive the economy.
10. Heavy reduction of excise duty on petroleum products and take concrete steps to arrest price rise. The BJP government has been allowing the rise in petrol price, affecting the daily lives of workers and urban members of the society.
11. Regularize all contract workers and scheme workers and ensure equal pay for equal work for all. Regular posts for workers aren't being filled and contract workers aren't being paid even half their wages. This needs to change because laws are skirted around and minimum wage workers need to be paid.
12. Cancel the New Pension Scheme (NPS) and restore the old scheme; increase minimum pension under the Employees’ Pension Scheme. The New Pension scheme is being utilized to fund share market-based speculation. This in turn also reduces certain securities for workers as well.

The General strike was carried out very successfully in Kerala while there was major impact in the industrial hubs of West Bengal, Tamilnadu, Haryana, Telangana, Karnataka, Assam and Tripura.

Bank and Insurance workers saw the highest participation in the strike while other job sectors such as energy, transportation, government employees also participated largely in the strike. Anganwadi and ASHA workers had huge numbers in the strike as well.

The BJP government has roundly failed to protect the citizens of India during the time of the pandemic. The imposition of these new laws has deteriorated the lives of common people to a point they are barely subsisting. The general strike was a reflection of the growing anger of the working people of India towards the incumbent party.

The deterioration of conditions ever since the BJP came into power is reflected in the participation of protests in India. In early 2019 there was the 180 million-person protest, followed by the 250 million protesting in 2021. Reported numbers of the countrywide strike were estimated around the 200 million mark. These numbers were largely underreported by publications based in the United States and Europe. Some publications went to extent of reporting 50 million as a standard estimate. This number is untrue because the size of CITU is 6 to 8 million and AITUC is around 15 million. These members also organize local people and workers.

The BJP government must hear the people's demands and act according to the needs of the people and not a few individuals and corporations who exist to profiteer off the backs of the working populace.

#India #PeoplesStruggles #generalStrike #Asia

Sao Paulo, Brazil – Labor unions, progressive political parties and social movements across Brazil have called for a general strike of all workers to protest the neoliberal anti-worker policies being imposed by right-wing politicians including the new president Michel Temer. Temer was put in office only after the illegal removal of progressive President Dilma Rousseff of the Workers Party.

A delegation from the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) was invited by the Central dos Trabalhadores e Trabalhadoras do Brasil – Central of Male and Female Workers of Brazil (CTB) to visit the Sao Paulo area to study how teachers are organizing for the strike.

“Teachers in Brazil face many of the same challenges that we do in Chicago. They face closings of neighborhood schools, cuts in teachers’ pension benefits as well as cuts to students in need. But a general strike to protest. Wow!” said CTU Executive Board Member Natasha Carlsen. “We are not there yet, but by organizing students, teachers and parents and applying class struggle methods we will get there.”

The call for a general strike follows protests and strikes by more than a million people on March 15. In Sao Paulo, the CTB president, Adilson Araujo, was one of those who used the microphone on the crowded Paulista Avenue saying, “Brazil woke up earlier today, willing to give a response to this illegitimate government which tries to impose at all costs an extreme neoliberal agenda.”

“All the unions are organizing for the General Strike. We had a meeting with every union in every sector. We are all united. We are striking to win back workers’ rights, win back our pensions and stop outsourcing,” said Campinas General Secretary for the CTB Paulo Jose Nobre, “Brazilian President Michel Temer is making an unprecedented attack on us. He wants us to work more hours and get paid less. He wants us to work more years for our pension and have less rights as workers.”

The Chicago Teachers Union delegation met with teachers organizing for the general strike around these issues. “Like the election of Donald Trump in the USA, the political trick that put Michel Temer in office is a setback,” said CTU fifth grade bilingual education teacher Marlena Ceballo, “we can learn from the teachers in Brazil that we, the workers, need to fight for power.”

One of the schools the delegation visited was the Carlos Gomes School that had been occupied by students to avoid closing. The successful student occupations which started in Chile and spread throughout South America were a response neoliberal cuts. “This was one of the big takeaways for us,” said CTU leader Sarah Chambers, “there is a lot of teacher, parent and community organizing happening in Chicago Public Schools, but not enough student organizing. In Brazil, the students are leading the charge along with the teachers.”

#SaoPaoloBrazil #SaoPaolo #generalStrike #Strikes #CTB #Brazil #Americas

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

On December 3 all workplaces to be deserted. Take all necessary steps to prepare and organize the strike, so as every city to be swept by people’s protests! PAME calls all workers, the unemployed, the women, the pensioners, the self-employed and the small farmers, in common struggle to block the premeditated crime of the Capital-the Greek Government-the EU against social security. The vultures of private insurance companies and the merchants of health already sharpen their claws.

No consensus in the massacre! Rise Up Now!

Block the dismantling of social security!

Say no to the new state budget that brings new weights and measures at the expense of poor people, new brutal cuts in social security, tax increases for the poor, privileges for the rich.

#Greece #Labor #generalStrike #AllWorkersMilitantFrontOfGreecePAME #Europe

On Monday, Dec. 15, Belgium was paralyzed by a general strike, organized by the major trade union centers, after a series of regional strikes, to protest the Rightist government's harsh austerity measures.

“This is the biggest strike in Belgium in thirty years”, said Peter Mertens, chairman of the Workers' Party of Belgium (PTB), who paid solidarity visits to several picketlines. “Action took place in almost all sectors, the roads were deserted, the active population decided not to go to work. The people have thus given a clear signal: it is really time for other policies, in which the people take center stage, and that dare to invest in social renewal.”

Throughout the country and in a united front of the trade unions, railway workers, nurses, teachers, metal workers, dockers, artists, students,... showed their rage and made the general strike of Dec. 15 the most 'generalized' general strike since 30 years. All major industrial sectors, the transportation sector and the public services came to a standstill, but also many small and medium enterprises, shopping centers, schools, hospitals and other non-profit institutions were on strike – some of them for the first time in their existence.

And all this notwithstanding the heavy pressures the employers brought to bear on the workers: invitation to stay overnight at their workplaces, financial pressure to come to work, the use of notices of default by bailiffs and even the threat of delocalization. Peter Mertens: “Today, by the force of their numbers and using the weapon of the general strike, the workers have put pressure on the godfathers of the Rightist government of Michel (liberal) and De Wever (Flemish nationalist): the large corporations and their employers' federations.”

A new and encouraging phenomenon is that the citizens' movements 'Heart above Hard' (Dutch-language) and 'Tout autre chose' (French-language, meaning 'Something entirely different'), together representing more than 1000 organizations, joined the strike movement, with bicycle tours and visits to picketlines in several major cities. The extent of the strike movement in schools and universities is yet another indication of the broadness of the movement, that even got the support of magistrates, small shop keepers and medical associations.

Peter Mertens: “At the picketlines we could feel the growing dissatisfaction with the government's deafness for the workers' demands. But also the great determination to continue the movement after the winter truce, if the government doesn't retreat on key elements of its plans, such as the postponement of the age of retirement to 67 years of age, the skipping of an indexation of salaries to price rises, or the dismantling of public services and social security.”

Meanwhile, in the protest movement the need for alternatives is growing. Five years after the PTB launched its campaign for a millionnaires' tax, there is a much larger support base for such a measure, with 85% of the population supporting the demand to tax fortunes above 1 million euro. “A genuine tax on fortunes is the only way to really diminish the increasing inequality in society”, according to Peter Mertens. “The only reason that the government has never thought of implementing such a tax measure, is the fact that the influence of the very rich on the government circles is too important. The government rests fossilized in its own tunnel vision that 'there is no alternative'. But the problem is that Mr. Michel and Mr. De Wever refuse to see the alternatives that exist.

Instead of the deadly austerity policies, destroying the social and cultural fabric of society, we plead for new investments in the social, ecological and industrial spheres. Instead of handing over ever larger parts of society to the market, we want strong public services to be the backbone of a democratic renewal. And instead of grabbing the money from the pockets of those who need it, we propose to activate the dormant wealth of the transnational corporations.”

Raoul Hedebouw, PTB spokesman and member of the federal parliament, was also present at several picketlines in the provinces of Limburg and Liège. He noted: “Everywhere we go, we observe a great openness for real alternatives. The more than 900 PTB militants were received very warmly at the more than 1000 picketlines they visited in solidarity. In the coming days and weeks, they will continue to invest in the broad and ongoing movement to make the anti-social government retreat.”

#Belguim #Europe #generalStrike #Belgium #WorkersPartyOfBelgium

Millions of strikers and their supporters came out for evening protests in over 100 cities and towns. Union organizers estimated that 1.7 million combined protesters took to the streets in just Madrid and Barcelona alone. That is an overwhelming protest turnout in a country with a total population of approximately 46 million.

The general strike was called in protest of the conservative government’s plans to weaken labor laws and impose massive budget cuts. The changes in labor law would make it easier for employers to lay off workers and unilaterally cut wages. The proposed budget would freeze public worker salaries, raise electricity rates, and impose 17% cuts to most departments. Spain’s finance minister called the budget the most austere since elections resumed in 1977 – after the death of fascist dictator Francisco Franco.

Spain’s capitalist crisis intensifies

The government’s attack on workers and the consequent strike by unions take place as the capitalist crisis in Spain deepens. Spain has the highest unemployment rate in the European Union. The unemployment rate is projected to reach almost 25% this year. Almost half of all youth in Spain are unemployed.

The Bank of Spain issued a report confirming that the country’s economy has officially reentered recession after shrinking for a second consecutive quarter. Spain’s economy is projected to contract by as much as 2.7% this year.

Spain, like many countries, is experiencing what is often referred to as a debt crisis. The total amount of Spain’s 2011 deficit was equal to 8.5% of the country’s GDP. The European Commission pressured Spain to agree to slash its deficit to 5.3% of GDP this year.

The dramatic deficit reduction target is intended to please the foreign big banks and speculators that own much of Spain’s debt in the form of government bonds. However, the contracting economy means that even with the recent round of cuts Spain is unlikely to meet its target. This means that the French, German, and British banks that have high exposure to Spain’s debt will likely continue to demand ever more drastic budget cuts.

Spain joins Greece, Portugal Italy, and Ireland as one of the euro zone countries mired in a severe economic crisis. The crisis in Greece brought that country to the brink of an outright economic collapse. The crisis in all of these countries is intensified by their participation in the euro zone. Having given up their national moneys for the euro, they are not able to lower interest rates or lower the value of their currency to cheapen their exports and stimulate their economies. They also cannot print money to pay off their bonds, increasing concern among banks and speculators about Spain’s ability to pay its debts.

Spain’s economy is the 13th largest in the world and is twice the size of Greece, Ireland and Portugal combined. Many economists believe the intensifying crisis in large economies like Spain threatens to destabilize the entire European Union. Such destabilization could set off a domino effect and drag the broader euro zone into deep recession. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden recently stated that the Obama administration is concerned that the crisis in Europe could grow and spill over into the U.S. before the November elections.

Same struggle, different continents

The ongoing crisis in Spain and other euro market countries has its roots in the same global recession that hit the U.S. in 2008. Much like the U.S., Spain experienced a construction boom and housing bubble that burst and was followed by a foreclosure crisis and a period of recession.

Governments in both countries have also turned to policies that ease the pain on banks and focus on reducing the deficit at the expense of investing in public programs. Meanwhile, workers both here in the U.S. and in euro market countries like Spain know that what they are facing is a crisis of unemployment.

Like Spain, the U.S. has also seen its share of large-scale labor protests in recent years. When right-wing governors in states like Wisconsin, Ohio and Florida pushed union-busting legislation, labor responded with campaigns of mass protest. General strikes, like that in Spain, are an even more advanced tool that workers have in their arsenal to fight back.

Spain’s unions have vowed more action during International Workers’ Day on May 1. This has been a significant day in the U.S. in recent years after immigrant workers reclaimed it as a day of strikes and protest in 2006. Immigrant rights and Occupy protesters are planning for May 1 actions this year in many parts of the U.S.

#Spain #strike #generalStrike

Statement of the Workers’ Party of Belgium

In a historical demonstration, 100,000 workers, coming from most of the country’s factories, marched through Brussels last Friday, Oct. 28. More than just a rally, Brussels saw a real social movement take shape, defending the right for older workers to benefit from early retirement and the right of the unemployed youth to get a job.

Belgium’s workers hadn’t taken to the streets in such large numbers since 1986. The current mobilisation is larger and more profound than the movement against the anti-worker ‘global plan’ of 1993.

The Belgium-from-below had started a strike movement ten days earlier, culminating in the Brussels demonstration on Oct. 28. That day a second general strike was held. The first one took place on Oct. 7.

Even as many trade union militants and shop stewards were present, tens of thousands of common workers from all major industrial plants came to demonstrate in Brussels last Friday, many of them for the first time.

Even as this movement is broad, it is also very profound and determined. Before the demonstration, those in power had warned: “You are selfish, you are not concerned about the youth but only about your pre-pension, you are against a pact of solidarity between the generations.” But the 100,000 marchers in Brussels have shown that the real solidarity pact between the generations was taking shape in the streets, in the form of class solidarity.

From the workers in the chemical industry, up to the saleswomen from the supermarkets, and including the metal workers from VW, the message was one and clear: “Don’t touch our pre-pension,” and “Pre-pension at 58 years, not at 60.” Can the government plans to reduce the pre-retirement age be stopped? “We have to stop them, this is really crucial matter. We are exhausted by the infernal work rhythm, the stress, the workload,” said one demonstrator after the other.

Young people spoke to us about their parents, exhausted by their job, wanting to take up their pre-pension in order to safeguard their health. At the same time, the elder marchers were mobilised for jobs for the youth, for their children. Both ways, they showed to be against the ‘war of the generations’ that the government is fomenting. “Why the hell work longer while 140,000 young people are waiting for a job?” was one of the main reasons invoked when asked why people came to demonstrate in Brussels. And many young people told us: “If we accept today the postponement of the pre-retirement age to 60 years, it will be 70 years when it will be us who are eligible.”

The current movement is showing that there certainly exists a clear class opposition between the world of the workers and the world of capital. And the Oct. 28 manifestation has been a milestone for the Belgian working class to show its solidarity and its strength. The working class is already getting organised for the weeks ahead, and will thus contribute to the unity of the workers movement in Europe, united against the imperialist European Union.

www.wpb.be, wpb@wpb.be

#Belgium #Statement #generalStrike #PTB

Athens, Greece -Demanding “No to anti-people politics,” tens of thousands of workers, students and youth rallied across Greece in mid-December to open a 24-hour general strike that virtually shut down the country’s businesses and industry. The strike was called by the All Workers’ Militant Front (PAME) and the General Trade Body of Greece (GSEE) in response to proposals in the 2006 budget that would cut public services including health care and education, abolish the eight-hour work day, decrease pensions and benefits and open up at least eight Sundays a year for work.

The general secretariat of All Workers’ Militant Front said, “With the massive, fighting participation of workers and public sector employees in today’s 24-hour strike, the government and the industrialists received a powerful message. The element of class power was decisive for the success of the all-Greece strike, which, with its demands, encouraged a participatory mood across all strata of the people. Equally important was the role of the picketers, who this morning gave a decisive battle in front of the gates of factories and businesses.”

Workers in the public services and utilities (DEKO) went on strike for an additional 24 hours against the planned privatization of public services that would result in greater job insecurity, lower wages and massive layoffs.

Aleka Paparigha, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Greece emphasized, “The question of DEKO and the fight against privatization should not be disconnected from the Lisbon Agreement, which is essentially being implemented in Europe and Greece with various laws.” The Lisbon Agreement is the plan adopted at the European Union summit of 2000, which emphasizes the need to implement ‘greater liberalization,’ in particular through the wholesale privatization of public services, in order to make the E.U. a ‘more competitive business environment.’

From last year’s massive rejection of the European Union constitution, to the recent strikes from Brussels to Athens, to the latest revelations of E.U. collaboration in American ‘rendition ‘ programs and secret CIA prisons, the reactionary character of the European Union has become increasingly exposed.

The strikes that are shaking Europe are the signs of a powerful working class movement ready to fight the E.U. and its imperialist agenda. Vassilis Petropoulos, member of the General Secretariat of PAME, said, “The support of the class struggle is a survival requirement in today’s conditions. We will fight, we will win.”

[Editor's note: All quotes from the Greek newspaper Rizospastis , Dec. 15, 2005]

#News #Greece #strike #generalStrike #Europe