Thousands of public-sector workers took part in the work stoppage on Tuesday 14th of July and in strike rallies in Athens and in cities across Greece, opposing the constitutional revision that the government is pushing through Parliament in the middle of the summer.
Thousands of public employees made it clear that the New Democracy government and the opposition parties supporting its agenda will come up against a “wall” in their attempt to secure constitutional approval for reactionary changes, such as fiscal “cutters” on wages and public spending, the abolition of permanent employment status, the linking of so-called evaluation with dismissals, and other measures that directly target the lives of public-sector workers and the people as a whole.
The undermining stance of the trade union leaderships of DAKE, PASKE, Tsipras’ party and the offshoots of the former SYRIZA party, their silence in the workplaces and at today’s rally, as well as the absence of dozens of their elected representatives from the strike demonstration, reveal the strategic alignment of their parties and their agreement with the reactionary constitutional changes.
The public sector workers were joined by the students who demonstrated through their student associations against the further privatisation of education through the revision of Article 16. They are fighting against a policy that treats educational needs as a cost and are struggling for degrees with real value and for jobs with rights.
At a time when the state is “taking its measures” in order to become more effective and flexible in serving the interests of the few, while becoming more authoritarian towards anyone who resists, raises demands, highlights problems and fights back, workers will respond collectively, massively and in an organised way.
We will strengthen the collective struggle through our trade unions for permanent and stable employment, the permanent appointment of all contract workers, a substantial increase in state funding for Education, Healthcare, Welfare and Social Security, wage increases, and the restoration of the 13th and 14th salaries.
In the coming period, we will step up our efforts to ensure the success of the major trade union rally on 5 September at the Thessaloniki International Fair. Workers will not remain spectators to the new sacrifices being prepared for us in the name of their wars and profits. We will become the protagonists in the struggle to live and work with dignity.
PHOTOS
VIDEOS
Highlights from the mobilisation of public-sector workers and students
Mobilisation of public-sector workers
Student Associations outside Parliament: Education Is Not a Commodity