The evening of Sunday, May 8, completed the circle of a many-month struggle by the workers’ movement of Greece against the antiworkers’ measures of the 3rd Memorandum of the Syriza Government. The struggles reached their peak with the 3day General Strike. A General Strike that took place in spite of the attempt of the Syriza Government to surprise the movement by bringing the antiworkers law for voting, earlier than the date it had announced.
Though the measures were voted by the Governmental Majority in the Parliament, the great struggles that developed are an important heritage for the continuation and the strengthening of the class movement. The struggles of the last months succeeded in delaying the legislation of the antiworkers’ measures, for an important period of time. They revealed the planning of the Government, its role in support of the interests of the Business Groups. Also, the oppression and intimidation attack against the class movement revealed once more that the power of the monopolies is an enemy of the workers’ movement, even if this power is hidden behind a “left” mask! An example is that on Friday, May 6, the Police arrested 31 trade unionists, members of PAME, for picketing the Strike. And on Sunday, May 8, the Government went on an open attack with chemicals (tear gas, light grenades, etc) against the huge workers’ demonstration in Athens, utilizing also provocateur mechanisms. At the same time, the Greek ship-owners, attempted to block the Strike by asking for Court order that would call the Strike illegal.
On the other hand, steps were made in the rallying of forces with PAME, of mobilization of young workers, unemployed, and more. The experience from the Struggle on the issue of Social Security confirmed that timely preparation, good planning, orientation of work in the organization from the basis, from the roots, and most of all, facing the employers and the policy that supports them, are elements that create obstacles in the plans of the capital. Also, important step were the common struggles, which were developed with the poor farmers. That resulted also in the participation of the farmers in the 3day strike demonstrations. Within this period, was revealed more the role of the trade unionism that is controlled by the employers and the Government, with the negative consequences its influence has in the working class. It is characteristic that its forces did nothing for the success of the Strikes; instead many of their leaders were openly strike-breakers.
Within these conditions for the workers of Greece, important support was the internationalist solidarity that was expressed through dozens of trade union organizations from all over the world, especially with the support of the WFTU. Proletarian Internationalism and Solidarity were proved once more as powerful weapons in the class struggle.
In this direction, with militant spirit, PAME moves on the organization of the discussion for the conclusions of the struggle and planning of militant action.
Photos from the 3day General Strike and the Demonstrations of the last period available at:
