Newswire from Greece II

[RedPersonality]

400 workers of the “GREEK STEELWORKS” (Helliniki Halivourgia) industry, are on strike for 19 days.They have full support of PAME and of course of Communist Party of Greece.
Here is a resolution from 3 days ago.

http://www.pamehellas.gr/fullstory.php?lang=2&wid=2069

[FSL]

So, a while back, a law was voted allowing companies to bypass collective labor agreements that involve all the workers in the different sectors and make deals straight with their employees. By doing that it obviously becomes easier for each individual capitalist to blackmail his own employees rather than have them all together making demands.
Already, a "massacre" has started in the private sector. A shipping company wanted to impose a 2-day week on their staff along with a 60%(!) reduction in wages. After strikes they withdrew their proposal. But of course things aren't always good. Some of the largest banks are thinking of a 20-30% reduction and talks have started (unions in banks are dominated by the "center-left" and up until now quite a few people there were part of the labor aristocracy). Wage cuts are also imposed everywhere else, industry included.

And here we come to a man called Manesis. He's the in the steel-making business with a few factories in his hands and also a few ships to carry his raw material around. In one of his factories he made the workers sign a 40% reduction in salaries. In his other factory a strike has beein going on for almost 3 weeks.

We, the 400 workers of the “GREEK STEELWORKS” (Helliniki Halivourgia) industry, are on strike, like a fist, for the 16th day. And we continue! We do not move back, we have chosen the path of honor and dignity, to defend the bread and the future of our children.
We do not return to work, in fire and iron, for 500€. We demand, our 34 colleagues, who were laidoff, to return to work. Our struggle concerns the whole working class.
The employer of “GREEK STEELWORKS” is the battering ram of the industrialists.
The “GREEK STEELWORKS” is the first industry that attempts to impose 5hour working day with wage cuts, flexible employment relationships, unpaid overtime and to remove security rights by blackmailing us with losing our jobs.
The layoffs were made to terrorize us, because on our General Assembly we unanimously rejected the employers demand to work part-time, 5 hours a day, with a 40% wage cut. At the same time our hard work, increased the production last year from 196,000 to 266,000 tonnes, hard work with daily labor accidents and a dead worker.
The employer’s profits are immense, and he continues to blackmail that if we do not accept his demands to work as slaves, he will lay off 180 more workers.
The steelworkers gave him the right answer. We overcame fear, blackmails, the threat of hunger. We went on strike!
We are standing up. We are already victorious. No one can bend us!
The industrialists, in the factories around, were waiting for us to have got tired, to have returned to work with our heads bowed, to have signed working for 5hours a day. The employer admitted that he did not expect such a struggle! We have proven that workers have endless power. For 16 days, 24hours a day, we guard our strike. They felt our power and we have been taught a lot more. We can distinguish friends from enemies.
We rely on the power of solidarity. Dozens trade unions supports from day one. PAME stands on our side. Support steelworkers struggle in every way.
For the steelworker there in no way back!
If we lose, the door opens for 5hour working day and labor jungle to the other factories, which is what the industrialists await. The steelworkers’ victory will be a victory of the whole working class. That is why we want you on our side.
Thus far! Terror, blackmails and the attack against workers shall not pass!
Support the strikers steelworkers in all ways possible: resolutions, announcements, press releases by trade unions, neighborhoods, youth and women organizations, everywhere, outside the Factory’s gate, financial aid and gathering food for the strikers’ families.
We denounce to all workers, the leadership of the Federations of Workers in Metal Sector, and of the Regional Trade Union of Elefsina, which during those 16 days, not only they did not call a single meeting, in order to organize a solidarity campaign, but they “advise” us to bow our heads, they slander us, they try to divide us. We call workers to bypass them and to organize in every workplace.
Victory will be hard, but it will be ours!

http://www.wftucentral.org/?p=4307&language=en


This is day 19th I think since the strike started. It's not often we get strikes like these especially in the private sector. Because workers often don't last that long but also because capitalists don't last that long.
But things have changed. It's now imperative for them to increase their profits to fight off the crisis and survive against competition. So now they're really be demanding everything. Just hearing things like 20/30/40% reduction in salaries is terrifying.


One other thing that's special about this strike is the solidarity it's getting. There have been no reports of it in the bourgeois press and media, not one, but still through the CP's paper and word of mouth people learn about it. Workers in the food industry brought boxes filled with cartons of milk for the workers' kids, farmers brought vegetables and many people are gathering as much money as they could. Things are now tough for almost everyone though, few people can spare any money, and one of the nicest things I heard was how a union in another factory, one that is also organising a series of strikes now as there has been no pay in the past 2 months, gathered 140 euros, all in coins. Not by people who were cheap but by people who, in all honesty, are barely making it but still they felt they had to offer something. Students in the area take trips to the factory without their school's approval and generally, this sort of thing brought out the best in lots of people.


There have been visits to their boss' other factory to get the workers there to go on strike as well. That union however has a Paske-Dake majority (affiliated with Pasok and New Democracy) that mostly just helps the boss in terrorizing the workers, saying they need to accept sacrifices to protect their jobs. The Union of Metalworkers (covering the whole sector) also dominated by Paske has not called even a 24hour strike in solidarity and only acknowledged this effort a few days ago.
We'll see if they can keep the workers in the other factories frightened.



PS Hadn't seen the thread had gone into a second page, well a bit more info never hurt anyone.

[Sasha]

All electric power to the people! Electricity trade union occupies office for disconnection orders in Athens

Monday, November 21, 2011
On Sunday, trade unionists of GENOP-DEI, the union of the Public Power Corporation, occupied the building issuing the electricity disconnection orders for households that have failed to pay their bills. As of a few weeks ago, the latest bills now include the latest property tax imposed by the government, typically including hundreds of euros per property, making payment for thousands a non-option. The statement by GENOP-DEI follows.

Greek original

Workers,
from the first day when the Papandreou government announced that it would turn DEI [the Public Power Corporation] from a servant of the people into a tax collector, that it would use the public good of Electricity as a blackmailing leverage against the poor and the unemployed, we used the most clear terms to denounce this unacceptable decision. With an emergency press conference on September 16th, 2011 we showed the tragic consequences this measure would have not only upon society but also upon DEI itself.
Because for us, the role of the trade unionist cannot be detached from what happens in society.
Because for us syndicalism is a holy cause, we made clear from the first instance that we will use all our powers and with the greek society as ally and forefront to block this unacceptable and criminal decision.
More specifically, at this press conference we had said that in our struggle we would intervene at three stages in order to cancel out this unacceptable decision.
The first stage: to block the bills with the emergency tax from being posted out.
The second stage: in the case that we did not succeed at the first stage, to block all the disconnection orders from reaching all those who cannot afford to pay the emergency tax.
The third and main stage would be that with our bodies, our physical presence, giving a man-to-man struggle in the streets and in the neighbourhood of the entire country we will prevent the electricity from being disconnected from the households of impoverished co-humans of ours.
Concerning the last point, we can today announce that in tens of cities across the country, patrolling groups [have been set up] in co-ordination with labour centres, unions, the local municipalities, social organisations, citizen unions, and wherever they do not exist yet, this is only a matter of days.
Being consistent with what we had said, on October 13 we attempted to block the posting out of the electricity bills. At that time, the management found alternative solutions.
Today, November 20th and despite the ferocious attack we received from the lackeys of the system, one day before the disconnection orders are mailed out, we are are here, at the only point where disconnection orders are mailed out, to the entire country.
We are here because the role of DEI is not that of the tax-collector.
We are here because the public good of electricity cannot be used as a blackmailing leverage.
We are here because those who voted in this despicable law did not even bother to think “but how will the unemployed possibly pay? Will we also cut off their electricity?”
We are here because we refuse to become inhuman murderers of small children and of the sick
We are here because for us no co-human of ours is in abundance
We are here because there is still blood running through our veins
We are here, because humans and their needs are above the markers
We are here to blockade the disconnection orders for the public good of Electricity, without which lives are endangered and no-one can live.
Finally, we are here because we do not want to be ashamed tomorrow.
We will not throw our pride and dignity down the drain.

[FSL]

Earlier today police stopped the occupation and arrested about 15 people (one of them is the head of the union). After that the electricity trade union called for an immediate 2-day strike. People have started gathering again at the place where the occupation was taking place, the police hasn't left.

[IndependentCitizen]

Keep up the work, Comrades. Only a matter of time before the revolution comes.

[mrmikhail]

Greek police make first raid on university since fall of military junta

By Robert Stevens
24 November 2011

Within days of being installed at the behest of the international financial elite, the new Greek coalition government led by top banker and prime minister Lucas Papademos has signalled its intention to impose cuts by authoritarian means.
On November 17 the government utilised the abolition in August of the Academic Asylum law by the previous social democratic PASOK government to authorise the police entry into a public university, at Thessaloniki, for the first time since 1982.
The Academic Asylum' legislation law, barring the police from campuses, was passed in the early 1980s. It required police to seek the permission of a prosecutor before being able to enter the grounds of higher education establishments. Students were guaranteed sanctuary from arrest or state brutality.
The law was enacted in response to the brutal murder of students who took part in an uprising at the Polytechnic in Athens on November 17, 1973, by the US-backed military junta. On that day students launched strike action under the slogan of “bread, education, freedom”, against the Greek military, led by George Papadopoulos, which had taken power in 1967.
Since the fall of the junta in 1974, students, youth and workers throughout Greece have marked November 17 as the end of a three-day period of protests and remembrance of the victims of the Greek colonels’ regime.
This year, in the aftermath of the October 19-20 general strike that saw the largest protests on the streets since the fall of the junta, the Papademos regime quickly moved to crack down on the annual demonstrations.
As of November 15, a first instance prosecuting court was put on standby to “handle possible incidents” according to the Athens News Agency.
The ANA reported, “According to plans, 11 prosecutors will be on round-the-clock standby on Tuesday and Wednesday, one of whom will be at the Operations Centre of the Attica Police Headquarters.” It added, “On Thursday [November 17], three prosecutors will be at the Attica Police Headquarters and another 12 will be on standby. The plans also anticipate, if necessary, the number of prosecuting officials to be increased wherever their presence will be required.”
In the capital, more than 30,000 people participated in the march that, by tradition, departs from the Athens Polytechnic on a route that ends at the US embassy. This was the largest November 17 demonstration seen in years. According to reports the demonstration was policed by 7,000 officers, including 700 heavily armed riot police.
Police attacked the protesters with tear gas and stun grenades. At least 90 people were detained for questioning and 13 arrested. One young protester was hospitalised after injuring both legs when police chased him.
Large protests were also held in the cities of Patras and Thessaloniki, and on the island of Crete. In Patras police used tear gas to disperse demonstrators.
In Thessaloniki 15,000 people protested and were also attacked by the police with tear gas. During the evening riot police officers entered the grounds of Aristotle University. Police chased a group of youth into the grounds of the university and then into one of the faculties. According to eyewitnesses, the police then detained one of the youths for questioning.
The raid took place as members of the university senate and students were attending a classical music concert conducted by the composer Thanos Mikroutsikos in the main auditorium.
The abolition of the right to Academic Asylum was carried out as part of the education reform bill submitted by education minister Anna Diamantopoulou. Under the instruction of the TroikaEuropean Union, International Monetary Fund and European Central Bankthe Papandreou government laid the basis for the privatisation of higher education. The bill introduced tuition fees and allowed for autonomous administration of universities. Free education is to be guaranteed only for three years, with fees to be imposed for further years of study. Non-academics and individuals external to universities will be permitted to run institutions that will be assessment-based, with funding based on orientation to industry. Existing national pay scales will be abolished and replaced by productivity-related pay scales.
University budgets had already been slashed by 30 percent in 2010 and another 20 percent in 2011.
PASOK has been entrusted with several key ministries in the new Papademos government. As noted, Diamantopoulou, the author of the abolition of Academic Asylum, has taken control of the education ministry. There is clear evidence that the abolition was carried out in collaboration with the US Obama administration. One of the diplomatic cables published by WikiLeaks last year documents comments from Daniel V. Speckhard, the former US ambassador in Athens. In December 2009, Speckhard wrote that the law of Academic Asylum was “nothing more than a legal cover for hoodlums to wreak destruction with impunity” and “threatens the academic and student communities.”
Speckhard complained that Greece's universities “have become a war zone where police are afraid to show up” and claimed, “Due in large part to constant disruptions to classes, the average Greek student takes six years to complete a four-year degree.”
Seeking to justify state repression, he wrote, “Campuses have become havens for criminals, most of (whom) are involved in crimes such as drug trafficking, assault, theft, counterfeiting of DVDs and CDs, looting and vandalism.”
Speckhard praised the Athens Law School, which “took a bold step toward restricting access to its campus, proposing introducing a student ID system similar to that used by the Sorbonne and posting guards at its gates.”
Noting that PASOK were amenable to changing the law of Academic Asylum, despite their previous commitment to retaining it, Speckhard enthused, “The fact that changes to the university asylum law are even being discussed is a big step forward for Greek society, an indication that, for many, this formerly sacred legislation may be past its prime and no longer applicable to today's reality.”
The destruction of the social conditions and living standards of the Greek working class cannot be imposed through democratic means. Less then four decades after the fall of the military regime, a new right-wing government, which includes the neo-fascist LAOS party, has been imposed, with no mandate from the population. It has been tasked with carrying out the brutal requirements of the financial aristocracy in Greece and internationally.
Source

The government is looking more and more like the old dictatorship....

[RedPersonality]

The strikers in Helliniki Halivourgia open a bank account for anyone who wants to help financially.

Bank:National Bank of Greece
Account number:200/623301-52
IBAN:GR 40 0110 2000 0000 2006 2330 152
BIC or Swift Code:ETHNGRAA

[Kornilios Sunshine]

Just one hour ago,there has been a little rumour that Greece might get out of the Eurozone. However I do not have evidence to prove that, I heard it thought on the TV tonight.

[FSL]

Probably in relation to this: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/...7AQ0CF20111127

"Germany, France examine radical push for eurozone"


A eurozone with way more strict rules and tougher penalties on those who don't live by them, made by Germany, France and all those who think they can follow.
It's the end of the EU as we know it?

[RedPersonality]

"WORKERS COUNTERATTACK" magazine of PAME.

Issue No 1
http://www.pamehellas.gr/publication...011_131821.pdf

[Kornilios Sunshine]

Tomorrow (6 December 2011) huge demonstrations are likely to happen to remember the 15-year old Alexis Grigoropoulos murdered by a cop back in 2008 the same day.
Parties are not going to take place at such events. The KKE has organised a demonstration about the hard taxes put on the citizens which will happen at the afternoon much later than the Grigoropoulos demonstrations where only schools will possibly take place.

[Lenina Rosenweg]

Why isn't the revolutionary process in Greece going anywhere? The country has had mass demonstrations of 100s of thousands, 12 (I think,I've lost count) general strikes, the government and political parties are despised, MPs can't go out in public without risking assault.The population is painfully aware, literally, that they have no future under capitalism.

Why isn't the working class able to take power? The situation isn't just ripe for revolution, its like a banana which has been left out for over a month.

I know the details, the unions have been holding back the working class, the left doesn't appear to have its act together but c,mon, why is Greece still capitalist?

[Kornilios Sunshine]

Why isn't the revolutionary process in Greece going anywhere? The country has had mass demonstrations of 100s of thousands, 12 (I think,I've lost count) general strikes, the government and political parties are despised, MPs can't go out in public without risking assault.The population is painfully aware, literally, that they have no future under capitalism.

Why isn't the working class able to take power? The situation isn't just ripe for revolution, its like a banana which has been left out for over a month.

I know the details, the unions have been holding back the working class, the left doesn't appear to have its act together but c,mon, why is Greece still capitalist?

Look this will sound stereotypical but I do not intend to sound so. Anyways, all of the Greeks have realised that things are difficult and something is need to be done, except a very few percent of people who are shitty PASOK(Goverment) supporters. However and take that into consideration a huge percent of Greeks are expeting that some great leader would come and make their lifes better and get them out of the crisis. If they do not stop thinking that there can be no revolution as a whole. On the other hand there is a small percentage of Greek people who demonstrate to abolish the capitalist state in Greece. But mostly such people only belong to parties or get no active at all after some time has passed.

[RedPersonality]

Resolution - Call to struggle of the General Assembly of the HELLINIKI HALLIVOURGIA workers
http://www.pamehellas.gr/fullstory.php?lang=2&wid=2126

[aty]

Resolution - Call to struggle of the General Assembly of the HELLINIKI HALLIVOURGIA workers
http://www.pamehellas.gr/fullstory.php?lang=2&wid=2126

This is where the revolution will begin. Just look at Russia before the 1917-revolution. They had strikes, riots, bombs and shootings for 20 years before the actual revolution in the workplaces started taking place.

Greece have not even had their 1905-revolution yet. Just because the Greece working class is way way ahead of other european countries dont mean that they actually could have a socialist revolution tomorrow. This is also a sign how bad things are for the working class in Europe at the moment.

[A Marxist Historian]

Why isn't the revolutionary process in Greece going anywhere? The country has had mass demonstrations of 100s of thousands, 12 (I think,I've lost count) general strikes, the government and political parties are despised, MPs can't go out in public without risking assault.The population is painfully aware, literally, that they have no future under capitalism.

Why isn't the working class able to take power? The situation isn't just ripe for revolution, its like a banana which has been left out for over a month.

I know the details, the unions have been holding back the working class, the left doesn't appear to have its act together but c,mon, why is Greece still capitalist?

Because the unions have been holding back the working class and the left most certainly does not have its act together.

Crisis of leadership, same old story. Rosa was wrong, or rather I should say those who have misinterpreted her these days are wrong. Lenin and Trotsky were right. Spontaneous revolutions rarely happen, and when they do (Tunisia and Egypt for example) they don't go anywhere good unless a revolutionary leadership with the necessary revolutionary program evolves.

-M.H.-

[Kornilios Sunshine]

Two days ago, on 23 December, the far-right neonazi fascist party "Golden Dawn" had a demonstration on the Syntagma Square in Athens, against the "Junta of the Mnemonium".Funny, because many of the Golden Dawn members are totally supporting the Junta goverment which took place on 1967-1974! However, there were conflicts between them and the riot cops.

+ YouTube Video

Merry X-mas!

[Kornilios Sunshine]

Also, the Greek channel ALTER TV has been off the air for 3 weeks because the shitty owner of the channel, has hold the payment of the workers since July 2010! Solidarity to the ALTER workers who have resisted not being paid!

[Sasha]

Running against the grain of defeatism, the steelworkers at “Greek Steelworks” (Elliniki Halivourgia) have already achieved what would have seemed*inconceivable*only a few weeks ago. They took on their boss and his threat to cut down their salary cuts dramatically (by 40%) and to fire those who instigated the strike – and it seems like they are winning!
Already striking for 55 days in a row (as of December 26th, 2011; the strike started on November 1st) the steelworkers have already created a formidable record. They have forced their boss to the negotiating table and the first “offer” has already come through – the schedule restructuring (and subsequent pay cuts) to be withdrawn, but the sacking of at least 34 of their co-workers would stay in place. The strikers have rejected the “offer” and the struggle continues. *This is not just their struggle: it is a struggle against the ritualistic, theatrical opposition of single-day General Strikes; it is a struggle against the defeatism and the fatalistic attitude of those unable to see through the haze of the memorandum and the capitalist crisis; it is a struggle that shatters through the delusions of the spectacle at the time of the year when it would have otherwise reached a peak.
Victory to the steelworkers – indefinite, wildcat strikes everywhere, now!

SOURCE: http://www.occupiedlondon.org/blog/2...-of-all-of-us/

[Kornilios Sunshine]

For the time being, things in Greece are relavitely calm but it's only the start of the year. This should be the year of the uprising of the capitalist goverment by the workers.