On Saturday, January 22, the Regional Trade Union of Piraeus held a militant rally demonstration to demand measures for the protection of the life and health of the people.

The rally was addressed by Athens HILTON Hotel Workers who have been on militant actions and start strike on Monday demanding the protection of their jobs, METAXA Public Hospital Union who informed on the miserable conditions of public hospitals for both patients and Healthcare workers.

The keynote speaker was Markos Bekris, President of the Piraeus Regional Trade Union Center, who noted that it is an important step for the continuation of the organization and escalation of the struggle for every worker in every workplace, in every sector. He noted that the government “continues to adhere to such protocols as to ensure only the profits of the monopolies. Protocols that transform workplaces into covid hot-spot locations. The same goes for public transport, without any measures to strengthen the public health system at the same time that the government gives millions of euros to the private health clinics. And on the other hand the known results with the complaints from the local Public Hospitals with dozens of patients on stretchers and ranches, without to be able to meet the needs even to ensure the supply of oxygen to the patients.

For the Government the health and life of the people take second place, especially when we are in a period of new capitalist crisis. This proves that the virus is capitalism that decides who will live and who will die.

We must not accept the lives of the workers to be measured and bargained. The primary issue is to be healthy, to have workplace safety, to have a public hospital and primary health care available to go. In order to be able to fight for our rights and our lives, it is a primary issue that enters the forefront of the Piraeus Regional Trade Union Center to get in front of the organization of the struggle of the workers in Piraeus in relation to the pandemic”

Photos https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzzxtR