Thousands of protesters in Greece raised their voice against the Greek-American Military Agreement

By Nikos Mottas.

Thousands of people, workers, students, pensioners, men and women of every age, participated on Thursday afternoon in demonstrations in Athens and other major Greek cities against the Greece-USA Agreement which upgrades and extends the existing network of US-NATO military bases in the country. 

The rallies were organized by the the Struggle Committee against the Greece–USA Agreement on Military Bases, with the support of the Greek Committee for International Detente and Peace (EEDYE), the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME), the Federation of Greek Women (OGE), numerous Workers' Unions and Associations, Students' Unions and other groups of the people's movement.  

May Day 2022 in Greece: "The working class does not bow its head" (VIDEO)

“The working class will not bow its head” was the message sent by thousands of demonstrators on May 1st in Athens' Syntagma Square, on the occasion of the International Workers' Day. With a militant rally, trade unions that participate in the ranks of the All-Workers' Militant Front (PAME) raised their voice against the rise of prices and Greece's involvement in the imperialist war in Ukraine.

136 years since the uprising in Chicago, in the shadow of another imperialist war that is taking place for the profits of the capitalists, in the face of the escalating attack of governments against the workers' rights, the message of the May 1st protests throughout Greece is a beacon of hope. 

USA: No more workers’ blood for the profits of the bosses!

More than 90 people were killed in several states across the U.S. after tornadoes and heavy rains hit the region. Among them are six employees at AMAZON warehouse in St. Louis, Illinois, were roof collapsed and eight workers at a candle factory in Kentucky. 

In a statement, the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) and its militant trade unions across the world pledge "to continue the struggle for all necessary measures to protect workers from natural disasters and extreme weather events, measures that the US do not take because they consider them as a “cost”. 

Worker killed at Cosco-owned Piraeus Port in Greece

A 46-year-old dockworker was killed on Monday afternoon at pier 2 at the Piraeus Container Station, when, under unclear circumstances, he was fatally hit by a crane bridge.

"It's not the 'bad' moment. It is a result of the intensification of work, the lack of safety measures for our health and our integrity ", the Union of Container Workers at Piraeus Port underlines in its statement, demanding 6-hour shifts, abolition of counter shifts, conversion of all contracts into full and Health and Safety Committees by employees. 

PAME: Solidarity with the workers' strikes in the USA

John Deree employees protest in Davenport, Iowa.

In a statement of solidarity towards the recent mobilizations and strikes by workers throughout the United States, the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME), Greece's class-based union movement, stresses out:

"PAME, which represents the class union movement of Greece, a member of the WFTU, expresses solidarity with the workers in the USA who are in various mobilizations, strikes and protests, claiming Collective Agreements with salary increases in many sectors.

Flashback: Remembering the 2011 murderous attack against PAME rally in Athens

Today, 20 October, marks the 10th anniversary of the organized murderous attack unleashed by parastatal groups, anarchists, fascists and other provocateurs against the huge rally of PAME and trade unions in Athens in 2011. Back then, as a response to the anti-people measures taken by the PASOK government, the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) and class-oriented trade unions and workers' associations had organized enormous strike mobilizations on 19-20 October throughout Greece,

Greece: Thousands joined PAME rally, sent powerful message to Mitsotakis' government

Thousands of workers, self-employed people, farmers, pensioners, young men and women participated on Saturday evening in a massive rally organized by the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) and Trade Unions on the occasion of the inauguration of the 85th Thessaloniki International Fair by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Under the slogan “Only the people can save the people. The justified indignation must become a force of organization and struggle”, numerous protesters from Thessaloniki and the broader region of Central Macedonia sent a militant message to the ND government and the employers. 

Hands Off Cuba! Solidarity statements from WFTU and PAME

In a statement about the recent imperialist-backed provocation against Cuba, the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) points out:

The World Federation of Trade Unions, which is the militant voice of 105 million workers in 133 countries on five continents, conveys its internationalist solidarity to the Cuban workers and People. We strongly condemn the recent provocations orchestrated by counterrevolutionary elements in Cuba, organised and financed from the United States for destabilising purposes.

The world class-oriented trade union movement supports the Cuban People in their struggle against these actions. We demand the lifting of the criminal blockade that for 60 years has been creating serious problems for the economy and the lives of the Cuban people.

Protests in Greece: Hands Off the 8-Hour Working Day!

With mass rallies in Athens, Thessaloniki and other major Greek cities on Thursday, thousands of working class people expressed their strong opposition to the government's anti-labour draft law.

Under the slogan “the monstrous draft law must be abolished – hands off the 8-hour working day”, a large demonstration took place in downtown Athens, being the prelude of the nationwide strike that will be held on June 10th. 

KKE and PAME express solidarity with the people of Colombia

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) have expressed their solidarity with the working class and the people of Colombia who are mobilizing against the anti-popular policies of the conservative Duque government. 

In a statement issued on 12 May, the International Relations Section of the CC of the KKE points out:

Workers’ May Day 2021 in Greece: Militant rallies in Athens, Thessaloniki and other cities

With large, militant rallies in Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras, Piraeus and other cities, the working class of Greece honored today, May 6th, the International Worker's Day. 

The class unions organized multi-faceted strike events throughout the country in spite of the ND government decision to move May Day on Tuesday. Thousands of people, workers, young men and women gathered today in Syntagma Square, Athens, in a demonstration organized by dozens of unions that participate in the ranks of the All-Workers’ Militant Front (PAME), thus sending a powerful message against the anti-labour policies of the government. 

Greek Police brutally beat passer-by in Athens: KKE, PAME condemn government's policy of repression

Just two weeks after the brutal crackdown of a student's protest in Thessaloniki's Aristotle University, Greek Police is once again making headlines for its repressive and violent activity. 

 

Despite the effort of the conservative New Democracy government and Minister of Citizen Protection Chrysochoidis to attribute this activity to “isolated incidents”, it is evident that police aggression is part of the governmental policy and goes hand by hand with the implementation of the anti-worker, anti-people agenda. 

 

Greek Police violently attacks university students' protest

Once again Greek riot police used excessive violence against protesters, attacking a peaceful student's demonstration at Thessaloniki's Aristotle University. 

The students were protesting for their right to free education and against the new law which aims to permit police presence in university campuses. 

On the orders of Aristotle University's rector, riot police forces intervened by using chemicals and other crowd dispersal methods, while more than 30 students were arrested. In a video published on YouTube, police officers appear violently dragging a student with his head being on the pavement. 

Short documentary: The working class struggles in Greece during 2020 (English Subs)

 

Greek government escalates oppression, intimidation and prosecutions against the workers struggles

Statement by the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) concerning the latest anti-people, anti-worker policies initiated, amidst the pandemic, by the conservative New Democracy (ND) government:

 “…Because for me,the most surprising,
the most imposing, the most mysterious and grandiose
Is a man not allowed to walk;
A man who’s being shackled”

- Nazim Hikmet.

With the “demonstrations’ management” plan, the Greek government is running to prevent the popular anger and outrage that is piling up and growing.

Happy and Militant 2021: Messages by the WFTU and PAME

In a video message, with the Athens' Acropolis in the background, the General Secretary of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) George Mavrikos sends his best wishes for a Happy New Year "with faith and knowledge". 

 

KKE: Greek government's 2021 state budget is a "monument of unpopularity"

The 2021 state budget submitted by the conservative New Democracy (ND) government is a "monument of unpopularity against the working people", said the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas during a speech in the Parliament. 

Koutsoumbas strongly denounced the policies of the government during the pandemic, adding that the measures announced aim at strengthening the capital at the expense of the workers and people's rights. The KKE General Secretary pointed out that ND, opposition party SYRIZA and all the other bourgeois parties in the parliament are "strategically aligned" in the same policy, despite minor differences. 

Workers in Greece go on strike on November 26th: Statement by the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME)

While Greece is in the midst of Covid-19 pandemic crisis, with a nationwide lockdown imposed, the conservative government of New Democracy (ND) escalates the policies of authoritarianism and anti-labor measures. 

 

The government not only failed to protect the country from the second wave of the pandemic, but follows a policy that focuses on the protection of business groups' profitability rather than the health of the working people. 

On Thursday 26th of November, the country's workers respond to the anti-labor, anti-people policy of the government by organizing a nationwide strike. In statement, the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) points out:

Italy's Unione Sindacale di Base (USB): Ten years of class-oriented, independent and internationalist activity

This year marks the 10th founding anniversary of Unione Sindacale di Base (USB), Italy's independent, class-oriented trade union. In a message for the 10th anniversary the USB points out: 

"We could not celebrate together the tenth anniversary of USB, we do it now with this video that traces some important moments of our existence.

From the first congress, that of the unification between RdB and Sdl Intercategoriale, to date, thousands of initiatives, struggles, conferences, participation in international events have marked our first ten years.

Mass protests by trade unions throughout Greece: Struggle against anti-people measures and repression

Thousands of people participated in the nationwide demonstrations organized by trade unions affiliated with PAME in Athens, Thessaloniki and other Greek cities on Tuesday 13th October. 

 

Workers, self-employed people, unemployed men and women, students and pensioners sent a powerful message of unyielding collective struggle against anti-worker measures and repression. 

In Athens' Syntagma Square, thousands of protesters demanded protection measures for the people's lifes and rights, including the shielding of hospitals and the public health system, the need for hiring more teachers and cleaning staff in public schools, cheap and safe public transport, policies against unemployment and dismissals, collective agreements and strengthening of the labor rights.