One of the largest and most militant rallies of recent years shook the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) on Saturday, September 6.
Thousands of workers, farmers, self-employed, students, and pupils from Thessaloniki and the surrounding regions flooded the streets, with their slogans and flags giving the loudest possible answer to the policies of the government, capital and the EU.
They demanded the immediate withdrawal of the monstrous anti-labour bill for 13-hour workday and voiced their just demands for:
7-hour day – 5-day week – 35-hour week, wage increases, the signing and implementation of Collective Agreements, the restoration of the 13th and 14th salaries for public-sector workers, and the 13th and 14th pensions for retirees.
They denounced the provocation of the government that spends over €25 billion to the war machine of NATO and its allies, while schools open with thousands of unfilled teacher positions, hospitals are overwhelmed by medical personnel shortages, and half the country was left to burn by the wildfires without fire-prevention measures and infrastructure.
With a strong voice of solidarity, they stood with the heroic people of Palestine, condemning the murderous state of Israel and the Greek government’s participation in the strategic alliance with it, supported by all bourgeois parties.
The rally also targeted the compromised leaderships of GSEE and ADEDY, who call for “more Europe” while every anti-labour law in Greece is the faithful implementation of EU Directives. These are the same leaderships that praised previous anti-labour laws, refused to call strikes, and when they did, tried to undermine them. They continue to sow illusions, promoting “social dialogue” as a solution, fully aligned with ETUC’s line.
The slogan “Not a single sacrifice for the profits of monopolies – Not a single sacrifice for the war hawks of the EU and NATO” set the tone!
The unions declared that the struggle will escalate decisively, aiming for the organization of a nationwide strike by the end of September. The next militant milestone was set: the rally in Athens on Monday, September 8, against the monstrous anti-labour bill for 13-hour work.
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Video
Snapshots from the massive rally