Greece and the KKE

The fightback
User avatar
blindpig
Posts: 10588
Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2017 5:44 pm
Location: Turtle Island
Contact:

Re: Greece and the KKE

Post by blindpig » Fri Dec 08, 2017 1:44 pm

SYRIZA government withdraws anti-strike amendment after Trade Unions' militant reaction

Image
Workers-Trade Unionists invade the Ministry of Labour in Athens.

The SYRIZA-ANEL coalition government was forced after militant mobilization by PAME and Trade Unions to withdraw a shameful amendment on workers’ strike and other labour issues only hours after they were tabled in parliament. Earlier today (Tuesday), demonstrators supported by the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) invaded the Ministry of Labor in central Athens, as an act of protest against the antiworker-antipeople measures of the government.

The government's amendment proposes that for a union to go on strike, at least 50% plus one of active union members must agree. In fact, this measure is a step towards the restriction of the workers' right to strike and consists an escalation of the government-EU's attack against the labour movement.

Image
Mass mobilization by PAME and Trade Unions in downtown Athens against the antiworker- antipeople policies of the SYRIZA-ANEL government.

Image
Workers gathered outside the Ministry of Labour, Athens.

Once again, the "left" government of Alexis Tsipras has proved how ruthless it is when it comes to the satisfaction of the needs of the creditors and the capital. From its side, the KKE, from the very first time, declared "hands down from the right to strike", thus calling the working people to intensify their struggle against the governmental measures and organise their counterattack with the nationwide strike on December 14th.

https://communismgr.blogspot.com/2017/1 ... trike.html
"There is great chaos under heaven; the situation is excellent."

User avatar
blindpig
Posts: 10588
Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2017 5:44 pm
Location: Turtle Island
Contact:

Re: Greece and the KKE

Post by blindpig » Thu Dec 14, 2017 1:21 pm

Greece: Everyone in the strike of December 14th - Le 14 décembre tous à la grève partout!

PAME: Everyone in the strike of December 14th.

Image

All in the strike rallies in all cities! We fight back!

Let’s give a militant response to the new measures of impoverishment of the working people!
The positive climate that the government of SYRIZA - ANEL is trying to cultivate all along this time through the tale of the “just development” does not contain anything positive for the working people, since a new wave of anti-popular measures is being planned. The "just development" that the government promotes and defends, means further assault on the life of the working-people family with further abolition of rights and advances.

The measures of the 3rd IMF-EU-ECB assessment, which are preparing to implement silently, among the dirt and scandals that are rising to conceal the new attack, target “workers” matters with new cuts in pensions and social benefits, the launch of electronic auctions for the "red" loans to banks.
At the same time, the data contained in the new budget plan show what it means for the workers the promotion of the measures for the recovery of the profits of business groups. The swelling of the primary surpluses means further intensification of the exploitation for the workers. The final draft budget provides new privileges and bonuses for monopoly groups with "hot" money but also an extra blow to the workers-popular income, with the escalation of “tax-grabbing” and cuts, seizures and auctions, privatizations.
At the same time, the SYRIZA - ANEL government is preparing to make real a constant longing of big employers and to give another serious blow to the workers' trade union movement, by attacking the organization of workers’ struggles and demands, by giving a blow to the right to strike and to trade union action, to organization and action of workers.
The SYRIZA-ANEL government in these circumstances strengthens the repression and authoritarianism against worker-popular protests. Supermarket workers in Ioannina, students and workers outside the Ministry of Education, as well as protesters against bank seizures were persecuted, arrested, they received violent repression and chemicals.
Enough with the lies, the delusions, the meagre life!
We take the case of organizing the fight and the success of the strike in our hands. We send away the compromised and sell-out union leaderships that have neither the will nor the orientation to organize a movement against the demands of business groups, competitiveness, the measures that support the profitability of monopolies.
We call on the trade unions to make decisions to participate, to organize meetings, discussions in the workplace, to make decisions in the industries, in the factories.
We call on workers to respond to the anti-popular agreements, to the new bankruptcy plans for workers. To take part massively in strike rallies addressed by PAME in all cities, on December 14th.
We demand to:
• Sign a National General Collective Agreement and restore with law the salary of 751 euros for those paid with the basic salary as the minimum basis for increases in the lower salary. Lower wage at 33.57 euros.
• Abolish with law the humiliating salaries of hunger of € 586 and € 511, and no worker to take less than € 751.
• Restore Sectoral Agreements.
• Immediately abolish all anti-workers laws that crash the Collective Agreements. Collective Agreements that apply to all and be obligatory. Implementation of the continuing effect until the signing of a new Collective Agreement without any time restriction.
• No to the anti-workers changes that impede the functioning of trade unions, which obstruct the proclamation of strikes and the development of workers' struggles and demands.
• Tax-free limit per person of 20,000 euros, plus 5,000 euros for each child. Remove ENFIA (the tax for residence) and all the extra taxes.
• Prohibition of auctions for the working-popular family. No house in the hands of a banker!

https://communismgr.blogspot.com/2017/1 ... ember.html
"There is great chaos under heaven; the situation is excellent."

User avatar
blindpig
Posts: 10588
Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2017 5:44 pm
Location: Turtle Island
Contact:

Re: Greece and the KKE

Post by blindpig » Mon Dec 18, 2017 4:13 pm

Mass demonstrations of PAME all over Greece

Image

Α combative and loud response against the attempt of the government, the employers and the EU to smash the life of the working class and the peoples for the shake of the profits of the capital, was given by thousands of workers who took part in the general strike all over Greece in Thursday, December 14, 2017. The strike rallies of the All Workers Militant Front (PAME) sent a message of counter attack, a message of escalation of the struggle for the signing of National General Collective Bargaining Agreement, with no salary under 751€, with bargaining agreements including salary increases, against the auctions of the belongings of the people, against the abolishment of the right to strike, which is promoted by law from the SYRIZA-ANEL government.

In Athens, the strike mobilization ended with a rally to the US embassy, sending a message of solidarity with the Palestinian people and condemning the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

The protesters who massively participated in the rallies organized by PAME in all over Greece, showed their determination not to accept a future in poverty, in unemployment, in permanent insecurity. Together with the workers, also the self-employed and the farmers who participated with their tractors, demonstrated in the strike.



They expressed firmly their determination not to accept the abolition of the 8-hour work, of the stable and permanent work, of unofficial and uninsured work. Also they expressed their refusal to the raise of retirement age to 70 years and receive a pension that would be a mere allowance. They opposed the reduction of social spending and the squandering of the reserves of the social security funds.

They condemned the attempt of the SYRIZA-ANEL government to limit the right to strike, the biggest achievement, which the workers gained with struggles and blood. They condemned the “festive atmosphere” that the government is trying to cultivate with the fairytale of "just growth," which in fact means further attack against the life of the worker and popular families with further abolition of rights and gains. Finally, they condemned the repression and authoritarianism shown by the government in order to enforce the measures of both the third assessment and the previous memoranda.

Image

The GS of the CC of the KKE, Dimitris Koutsoumpas, attended the strike rally of PAME in Athens and made the following statement to the mass media:

“The SYRIZA-ANEL government continues the miserable practice and the “dirty work” at the expense of the Greek people. The sooner deceptions, fake expectations, disappointments will be overcome, the sooner we can pave the way, for the abolishing of all the anti-people measures of memoranda, for the recovering for the workers of the losses from all the years of crisis, for fundamental changes in Greek society and economy. This is, at the moment, in the hands of the working class and the popular strata in our country. We can move immediately forward, change the negative balance of forces, in trade unions and other organizations, by participating in the elections of the trade unions, in the activities of the mass movement, by strengthening the KKE, by regrouping the workers' and trade union movement, and by strengthening the social alliance of all the oppressed and the underprivileged of this country. "

Image

Image

Image

https://inter.kke.gr/en/articles/Mass-d ... er-Greece/

other photos at link
"There is great chaos under heaven; the situation is excellent."

User avatar
blindpig
Posts: 10588
Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2017 5:44 pm
Location: Turtle Island
Contact:

Re: Greece and the KKE

Post by blindpig » Tue Dec 19, 2017 12:42 pm

Pafilis (KKE): The government of SYRIZA whitewashes the capitalist system

Image
Thanasis Pafilis.

Speaking in the Parliament about the 2018 state budget, the Communist Party of Greece MP Thanasis Pafilis denounced both SYRIZA and the opposition party of New Democracy for their efforts to disorientate the people about the real enemy- capitalism. As Pafilis said, behind their disputes, SYRIZA and New Democracy try to relieve popular dissatisfaction within the same system, the power of the monopolies and the capital which exploits the wealth produced by the people.

For that reason, the KKE MP underlined, the EU, the representatives of capitalism, the industrialists congratulate the SYRIZA-ANEL government.

Pafilis also said that the government lies when it argues that by August 2018 the austerity memorandums will end, as long as none of the 600 laws will be abolished, while the implementation of antipeople measures has been scheduled to continue in 2019, 2020, even by 2060.

Thanasis Pafilis pointed out that the government offers the best services in whitewashing the capitalist system, something that also became apparent during the recent trip of Prime Minister Tsipras in the United States.

Responding to Pafilis on behalf of the government, Finace Minister Euclid Tsakalotos said that capitalism "differs" according to the mix of economy's management and refered to the case of Portugal - where wages were increased up to 0.88 euros - as an example of success!

Replying to Tsakalotos, the KKE MP mentioned that the existence of the Soviet Union and of the socialist system in the past- with all the important achievements for the working people- were forcing capitalist countries to make concessions about labour rights. Now, without the existence of the socialist camp, Pafilis said, capitalism takes everything back.

https://communismgr.blogspot.gr/2017/12 ... yriza.html
"There is great chaos under heaven; the situation is excellent."

User avatar
blindpig
Posts: 10588
Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2017 5:44 pm
Location: Turtle Island
Contact:

Re: Greece and the KKE

Post by blindpig » Thu Dec 21, 2017 1:04 pm

Greek state budget: Tsipras' government is doing the "dirty job" on behalf of the capitalists Image

Speaking yesterday in the Parliament during the discussion on state budget, Prime Minister Tsipras developed the narrative of "post-memorandums Greece", while presenting his government as the most capable to guarantee the recovery of the capitalists' profitability.

PM Tsipras, bypassing the class content and character of the 2018 state budget- which, like the previous ones consists a tool for the implementation of the strategy of the capital, by attacking people's rights, cutting social spending, providing even more tax exemptions to large business groups, etc- said with certainly that "this is the last memorandum budget, we are now doing different things with different results".

Tsipras himself admitted that, among other things, his government "has implemented reforms that nobody ever dared to make". In order to support his narrative, the Prime Minister referred to the congratulations that the SYRIZA-ANEL government received from its "partners", the EU institutions and the markets. In fact, despite his claims about the so-called "fair development" that is coming, PM Tsipras actually confirmed that the antipeople-antiworker attack will continue and will be extended in the "post-memorandum" period.

In his speech about the state budget, Alexis Tsipras assured the capitalists that the SYRIZA government will respect all the antipeople-antiworker commitments it undertook in order to "consolidate its positive achievements". But the question is the following: Positive achievements for whom? Tsipras himself gave the answer: "The end of the memorandums does not consist words of propaganda but a common place for the markets, the investors, the international bond credit rating businesses".

The PM didn't hide that he is committed in continuing the antipeople-antiworkers policy for the benefit of the large capital. He announced that the SYRIZA-ANEL government will implement additional measures in order to support large business groups and create a better investment environment, through new programs of supporting businessmen and measures for a powerful banking system. He pledged to provide "liguidity" to the banks, something that has already began through the ongoing auctions against people's houses.

NEW DEMOCRACY: "WE ARE BETTER SUPPORTERS OF THE CAPITAL".


Within the above framework, the political "dogfight" between the government and the opposition party of New Democracy took place. The substance of the argument between them is who can serve the recovery the capital's profitability in the most efficient way.

Tsipras and Mitsotakis blamed each other in a... race about who is the most credible servant of the capitalists and who could implement, in best possible way, the antipeople measures (also known as "reforms").

In this context, the President of New Democracy Kyriakos Mitsotakis reiterated his claim that he himself as well as his party are ready to take the leadership of the bourgeois political management, away from the "bonds of suffocating taxation", by creating a "smaller and more effective" state for the needs of the large business groups and by attracting "investments" through new and more privileges towards the capitalists. "Greece needs a daring plan of radical reconstruction and a determined leadership that will implement it without hesitations" Mitsotakis said, stating that he is ready to implement- better than Tsipras- the plans of the capital.

https://communismgr.blogspot.com/2017/1 ... nment.html
"There is great chaos under heaven; the situation is excellent."

User avatar
blindpig
Posts: 10588
Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2017 5:44 pm
Location: Turtle Island
Contact:

Re: Greece and the KKE

Post by blindpig » Thu Dec 21, 2017 1:07 pm

PAME: Intervention at the Euro Mediterranean Trade Union Meeting in Marseille (English / Français)

Image All-Workers Militant Front (PAME-Greece).
Intervention at the Euro Mediterranean Trade Union Meeting held in Marseille, France 14-15/12/2017.
Dear colleagues,
On behalf of PAME (All Workers Militant Front), the class oriented trade unions movement of Greece, I salute today’s, big meeting of the trade unions of South Europe and the Mediterranean. It’s our great pleasure to be here with you, our class brothers the same moment that in Greece the banners of PAME and WFTU are flooding the streets, today December 14, day of big General Strike.
A few months ago, when here in Marseille you organized a very big strike rally, a delegation of PAME was right here with you and expressed in action the solidarity of the class oriented trade unions of Greece along with the struggle of the working class of France and the GCT UD 13. And today, day of the General Strike in Greece we thank you for the great expression of your international solidarity. Today, as also in our everyday struggles. Especially your support for the struggles that are brutally attacked by the employers, the governments, the police. Against the repression and the intimidations by the employers, the working class fights back with the strengthening of its organization, the strengthening of Solidarity.
Dear comrades, the initiative for this meeting is very important, especially for those forces in the union movement that are concerned and troubled for the developments and the worsening of the life and the working conditions of the working class. This situation comes in a time that human work, based on the achievements of science and technology, leads to production of wealth incomparable to that of the past. Yet, we see this terrifying contrast, as officially the international Media reported that today 8 persons, have wealth equal to that of the half planet. We the workers, we witness the contradiction to work and not to be able to cover the basic needs of our families. Even worse is the situation for the young workers, the unemployed, or the half-workers, with the flexible forms of work that the capital has imposed using the governments that serves it.
In this already hard situation is also added the continues escalation of the imperialist competitions, the fight of the monopolies and the imperialist centers of NATO, the EU, of USA-RUSSIA-CHINA etc for the control of the markets, the sources of energy and the roads of their transportation. Developments that are escalated by the recent provocative recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, by the USA. In these competitions the victims are the people who suffer the destruction of their countries, the murdering of hundreds of thousands, the creation of millions of refugees. In these conditions the system breeds again the black snake of fascism, of racism. It prepares the escalation of the repression against the working –people’s movement. This is why it’s not by accident that in France and in Greece, and in all over the world both the capital and its governments systematically promote the attack against trade union rights and freedoms, against the right to go on Strike.
We dear comrades are here today, exactly because we think and we believe that this situation is not a one way street. The working class does not live in poverty and wretchedness because god wills it. Today, this year, we celebrate and we honor the 100 years from the revolution of the proletarians in Russia and the foundation of the first workers’ state. We know that the working class can be, and will be the owner of the wealth it produces. We know that the working class can and will abolish the capitalist exploitation.
But comrades, we know that today the situation for the trade union movement in Europe is negative and is dominated by the forces of defeatism and fatalism. We know very well that in the trade unions in Europe, instead of militancy, action and class struggle, dominates bureaucracy, corruption, class collaboration. Unfortunately we know very well and from our own country, that many trade unions have turned from unions of defense and struggle of the workers, into mechanisms of representatives of the employers. Mechanisms of the business groups for the submission of the workers.
It’s not by accident that in Greece, the wage cuts have the signature of GSEE (General Confederation of Workers of Greece), which is a member of ETUC in Greece, and has accepted and officially signed the cut in minimum wage by 25%, while for the young workers have signed with the bosses even greater cuts, reaching up to -32%.
Following the argument of “supporting competiveness and profitability” of the business groups, they accept every anti-workers measure, every demand of the employers. Meanwhile, they have even reached today to accept Government’s control to the trade unions, the restriction of trade union rights, even the banning of our right to go on strike.
Of course this is the line that the forces of ETUC promote all over Europe, since this is the role of ETUC. It’s not an accident that in the past few weeks the EU, along with the employers and ETUC, they all took pictures together to advertise the so called EUROPEAN PILLAR OF SOCIAL RIGHTS. And what was the position of ETUC?
The Secretary of ETUC, Visentini said “This is the time for unity and solidarity, this is the time to build up the future of Europe, a future that must be prosperous and social. Be sure that trade unions,with all social partners, will be on your side to deliver.”
(https://www.etuc.org/speeches/luca-vise ... i5dGdKWbcd)
Meaning, he gave his promise to the bosses and the leaders of the EU that the role of ETUC will be to stand by their side for a future with profits. A future of prosperity for the society that exploits instead of the society that works and produces. The ETUC calls the workers to be united in this cause.
This is the role of ETUC! This is the role of the trade unions of class collaboration! This is the role of the social dialogues and social peace! Trade unions inactive, discredited, away from the workers, faithful lapdogs of the bosses. They even reached the point, with the words of Visentini to claim that for the refugee crisis the cause is the climate change (http://euromaidanpress.com/2017/10/03/e ... #arvlbdata)
Trade unions that will line up behind the employers, behind the governments that support capitalism. That is why it is characteristic the efforts of many forces to lead the workers behind political forces and parties, that under the label of the “left” or “progressive”, they act against the workers movement. The role of these of forces is dirty, like the SYRIZA Government in Greece, which from one side talks about the Left, and on the other side governs together with a racist, nationalist party. It gives congratulations to Trump and funds NATO with billions, but at the same moment it shuts down hospitals and schools in Greece. SYRIZA speaks about democracy and “fair growth” while it cuts wages and pensions, it sends the riot police to attack the workers, who have nothing to eat and SYRIZA event attempts to abolish the right to Strike.
But the business groups and the governments they also use more mechanisms to control the workers’ movement. For example the EU and the German State, they fund foundations like the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES), the ROSA LUXEMBURG Foundation and some NGOs. An example is that the FES received from the EU and the German Government funding of 137.000.000 euros only in 2010. 2010 (http://www.fes-ethiopia.org/pages/about ... igures.php).
But the workers in Greece today we have experience. We know that the workers of Europe we need another movement. We need trade unions massive, militant, organized and determined. Loyal to the principles of class struggle, of solidarity and internationalism. Trade unions that will unite the workers independently of religion, color, sex or race, but as workers against the common enemy, the business groups. We need trade unions that will demand, that will fight, that they’ll win one by one the rights of the workers until their final victory.
Such trade unions cannot accept the arguments of the employers, or to become supporters of the one or the other government that promises development in favor of the workers and profits for the capitalists. These arguments have led the workers to disappointment, to withdrawal from the fight.
We need trade unions that will put in the first line the modern needs of the working class, unions that will fight for the whole life of the worker and its family. They will put obstacles to the anti-workers policies, they will stop measures, and they will create conditions for the counterattack of the working class.
With this direction, we recently succeeded in Greece with the metal workers, in the shipping yards, after 9 months of struggle to sign the first Collective Contract in the recent years with significant raises in the salaries, with the recognition of a series of rights, such as protection for the health and safety of the workers. A contract that along with the better salaries it establishes work of 7 hour/day–5 day/35hour per week. At the same the contract imposes 100% raise from the first hour of overtime.
For sure one success is not enough, but it’s a victory that can be our guide, a success that shows that even in the most difficult conditions, against gods and demons, the working class with faith in its own strength, with organization, with solidarity, with determination we can impose our rights.
For these reasons we believe that all the trade unions that oppose to exploitation, to poverty of the workers, all the trade unions that fight against the delusions for fair development within the capitalism, all the trade unions of Europe that oppose to the rottenness and the defeatism that is cultivated by the forces of class collaboration, we must support initiatives and actions like today’s. We must support this attempt of the militant forces and of WFTU.
We have to see initiatives for meetings and common actions of the trade unions, independently of the differences that we might have, that agree that the Working Class has to Counterattack. All the trade unions that we believe in the principles of the Fight, Solidarity and Internationalism. All the trade unions that we believe that for the workers the only way is to fight against exploitation and imperialism for the life and the future of the working class.
This is why we believe that today’s initiative, the meeting of the trade unions of the Mediterranean is important to create the preconditions for the workers of our countries to respond to the offensive of imperialism, to the plans of the monopolies and the Governments that serve them. For the Mediterranean to become a sea of peace and prosperity for the peoples.
"There is great chaos under heaven; the situation is excellent."

User avatar
kidoftheblackhole
Posts: 318
Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2017 6:09 pm

Re: Greece and the KKE

Post by kidoftheblackhole » Thu Dec 21, 2017 6:26 pm

Thanks for all of this BP. I would find and read it anyway, but it is nice to have it all conveniently in one place.

User avatar
blindpig
Posts: 10588
Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2017 5:44 pm
Location: Turtle Island
Contact:

Re: Greece and the KKE

Post by blindpig » Fri Dec 22, 2017 3:08 pm

Yer welcome, just trying to be useful.

***************************

Image

Their bumps have no bottom
From atexnos3 to DEC 21, 2017 Views
Written by Nick Motta //

The current jeering the Secretary General and members of the Communist Party of police outside Parliament is another indication of the authoritarianism which is sliding steadily, day after day, the coalition SYRIZA-ANEL. An authoritarianism that goes hand in hand with their increasingly barbaric policy.

The same, who, just a few years ago, came to the tiles with the slogan "no house in the hands of a banker", they are the same now that they are literally applying the auction policy to folk dwellings. The same people who just a few years ago, protesting the authoritarianism and police violence are themselves now intensify state repression, even legislating for automatic prosecution and imprisonment of those who try to prevent their miseries.

In order to carry out dirty work on behalf of capital, the Tsipras government does not hesitate to face anything: A noxious Xilokopa and throws chemicals into the elderly who protest, he answers with MAT and tear gas to students who ask for food and housing, crashes with law 'baton' mobilisations against auctions intensify state violence against workers who defend the inalienable right to strike .

In about a month, three years of 'first-left' rule are completed. Three years, during which the government of Tsipra "Dragasakides", "Skourletes" and "Kontonides" - proved to be the best servant of capital policy, managing the crisis of the system in order to revive the capitalist profitability. But he did something else, equally important: To overcome political misery, deception and uncovering the memory of all the governments of PASOK and ND.

Until the people send them to their rightful place, that is to say, to the unconscious of history, they will continue to prove what is now known to everyone: how their bumps have no bottom.

https://atexnos.gr/i-xeftila-tous-den-exei-pato/

Google Translator
"There is great chaos under heaven; the situation is excellent."

User avatar
blindpig
Posts: 10588
Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2017 5:44 pm
Location: Turtle Island
Contact:

Re: Greece and the KKE

Post by blindpig » Sat Dec 23, 2017 1:47 pm

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS regarding the current political situation in Greece

Odigitis International Edition
Image(October 2017) Front Page.
The following article is republished from the International Edition (October 2017) of "Odigitis" monthly, Organ of the CC of the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE).

It is reasonable for a youngster following international developments to wonder about the situation in Greece and to express interest precisely for the last two years that the government of Greece has been assigned to a “left” party. That party (SYRIZA) added 2 new memorandums and additional barbaric measures crashing the rights and conquests of the people. Finally, after so many measures voted, they declare that “we are approaching growth, from which all of us are going to benefit”. However, is it like this? In this article we are trying to give answers about the real situation in Greece, about the way out in favor of the people, the one that KKE proposes, through three questions that often people make.

In Greece, over the past 2-3 years, a new government with left-wing roots has emerged. Hasn’t it got a difference in the country’s governance ? Isn’t this an opportunity for faster growth in the country, in a more “fair way”?

It is true that the SYRIZA (new socialdemocracy) - ANEL (nationalist party) government is doing everything in order to give its credentials to the Greek bourgeoisie that it is as capable as the previous governments, ND (liberal party) and PASOK (classic socialdemocracy), to take measures in favor of the capital. The famous “we are coming out of the memoranda,” which the government says now, is not true because, on one hand, the Commission will continue for several years and, on the other hand, because all anti-people laws that have been taken in time of memorandums will not be abolished, since they are measures that will urge the bourgeoisie to come out of the crisis, to bring growth to the country.

But is this growth the same with the one that Mr Tsipras (Greek prime minister) and his partners are evangelizing about the working class and the poor strata? We put the question of “growth for whom”. On the one hand, monopoly groups enjoy tax breaks, subsidies, growth measures, free labour, and on the other hand the people are faced with lοw wages and pensions, labour and insurance rights cuts, unemployment, tax increase. All of this is evidence that the growth has a class character. It can be a growth for monopolies or for the people.

The most recent example of this reality is the sinking of a tanker in Piraeus, the largest port in the country, which has led to oil pollution on the coasts of the Saronic Gulf. This government, as well as the previous ones, advertised the port of Piraeus as an “entry gate” and as a “transit hub”, but the situation in ship navigation and the recent pollution of the area highlight government responsibilities, which with ministerial permits give alibi to the shipowners to utilize old ships. At the same time, however, local residents face the tragic consequences of environmental pollution, such as the food problem that has been created.

The KKE also within the Parliament highlighted the issue of the widespread marine pollution caused and asked for the blame to be placed. The party’s organizations in the region were mobilized from the very beginning and supported the mobilization of PAME in Piraeus against the crime committed.

Image

* * *

However, there are sectors where Greece is experiencing significant growth, such as tourism, as evidenced by the millions of tourists been welcomed each year.

Every year the number of tourists is increasing, with data showing that the first half of 2017 an increase of 6.6% compared to last year was recorded, while the tourist season has already been lengthened. It is a fact that benefits particularly a part of the big capital, such as hoteliers, shipowners, because of the ferry tickets, the chains of restaurants and so on. However, for the popular family holidays continue to be a luxury, while a very large proportion of youth works “seasonally” for up to 7 months in hotels, restaurants, most of the time without any day off, staying in the worst accommodation. Millions of tourists literally pass over the bodies of workers in the sector.

The growth of the tourism sector in Greece shows crystal clear that there are “two Greeces”; Greece of luxury, wealth, unforgettable holidays in the most popular islands, and Greece of labor which is either working all year round and cannot afford the summer holiday, or working in the worst conditions in the tourism “industry”, with more and more flexibility in the last years.

During the summer, KNE held a Pan-Hellenic Day of Action for Workers in Food, Tourism and Hotels. With their joint initiative, 36 sectoral and business trade unions organized mobilizations and interventions, focusing on issues of collective labour agreements and protecting the unemployed in parts of the country.

Image
Archive Photo: KKE electoral rally in Athens.

* * *

Isn’t furthering flexibility of labour relations an opportunity to reduce unemployment? The government speaks openly about the fact that it managed to reduce unemployment rates.

This is an argument that the SYRIZA - ANEL government uses to present flexibility and mobility in workplaces as positive. Of course, other bourgeois parties are advocates of this policy, such as ND which, at the time it was in the government, had introduced forms of such employment. Flexibility cannot be considered as a measure of combating unemployment, because the worker is actually consumable by the system and most of the time the salary he gets does not even cover his most basic needs, food and housing. This is a “recycling” of unemployment. The reality actually cancels what the government says, trying to implement the anti-labour measures it took in view of the Memoranda, promoting EU guidelines.

Image
Archive Photo: KNE Odigitis-Festival.

In the summer, Rizospastis published a survey that revealed that businessmen in the tourism industry can utilize 14 different forms of “flexible” work to ensure that their profits are increasing. Capitalists continue to profit from the tourist “fever” experienced by our country, but most of the youth working in this sector are now returning to their homes and facing the unemployment fund, if and when allowed, based on the stamps collected. As for unemployment, it is here and continues to bust amongst the youth with, according to the official Eurostat rates, one in two young people being unemployed (45.5%).

As the flexible forms of employment and unemployment are “privileges” that are more enjoyed by youth, KNE this year at the 43rd KNE - Odigitis Festival on September 21- 23, organized an event in the Spot of Young Workers and Unemployed at the site of the festival, having as a speaker the president of the Food and Tourism Trade Union, on the subject: “From a generation of flexibility, unemployment, exploitation, to become the Generation of Overthrow!”

The KKE is the only party that makes legislative proposals in the Parliament to protect the unemployed, provide decent allowances, provide access to health care and always supports any measure that can even alleviate the people. However, we always point out that this system, which not only generates unemployment but also poverty, wars, exploitation, needs to be and must be overthrown.

IN DEFENSE OF COMMUNISM ©

https://communismgr.blogspot.com/2017/1 ... rrent.html
"There is great chaos under heaven; the situation is excellent."

User avatar
blindpig
Posts: 10588
Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2017 5:44 pm
Location: Turtle Island
Contact:

Re: Greece and the KKE

Post by blindpig » Thu Jan 04, 2018 1:36 pm

Workers in Greece respond with new nationwide strike to the antipeople policy of SYRIZA government

The Greek Government of SYRIZA (which is in alliance with the far-right ANEL party) prepares the escalation of the attack against the workers and the popular strata of Greece. Image


The last memorandum with its new prerequisites leads to a new round of attack against the life of the working-people families, as over the next few months the government is to complete a massive amount of anti-peoples’ measures so as to declare the supposed “end of the memorandums”. Measures already agreed with the EU-IMF-ECB and which are demanded by the industrialists, ship-owners, the bankers etc, since they serve their competitiveness and profits.
The "end of the memorandums” described by the government, is based on the countless antiworkers laws of the previous years that have come to stay, as well as on the continuous measures that the SYRIZA-ANEL government carries out every three months. The “end of the memorandums” which the government declares in its fiestas across Greece are empty words, with only purpose to put the workers to sleep.
The recovery of the economy promised by the government means further intensification of the exploitation to create attractive environment for all kinds of "investors".
As much as the government claims that there is "light in the end of the tunnel" for the people, reality denies it. Their plans to ban the right to go on strike, to mute every voice that complains, demands and struggles, only confirms the commitments that the Government has made to the industrialists, the shipowners, the big business groups.
Antiworkers measures and oppression go hand in hand!
The imposition of anti-peoples’ policies goes hand in hand with the intensification of authoritarianism and repression. They try to stop the struggles of the working class. They want to raise obstacles and put restrictions on trade union action of the workers. They want to put their hands on the unions.
With a recent government law, the action of those who resist auctions (the confiscation of indebted workers’ houses by the banks), those who protest, those who are trying to prevent this injustice, is criminalized, as the struggle to protect the workers’ homea is considered a felony!
This is a decisive step for the complete elimination of the strike right, when already under the current legislation framework, today in Greece 90% of the strikes are called illegal and abusive. The aim of the Government is to weaken and disarm the workers’ movement, the trade unions, to deliver the workers slaves and disorganized to the appetites of the business groups.
The government chooses to strike the working class at the primary level of organization, within the enterprise, the factory, where intimidations are stronger with threats and pressures. Inside where the exploitation is born, the area that is the source of profitability.
The right to strike is non-negotiable! Our class has conquered it with countless sacrifices and blood! We will not allow to anyone to touch it!

Image
Behind the smiles of PM Alexis Tsipras and
Minister of Labour Effie Achtsioglou, a fierce
attack on workers' rights is underway.

The last developments also revealed the black coalition of the Greek government and the capitalists with certain forces within the trade unions. In the proposal of PAME for workers’ response to the new measures with National General Strike, the GSEE and ADEDY (members of ETUC in Greece) refused!
The same forces made whatever they could a few weeks before to undermine the General Strike of December 14. They do everything to prevent the organization of demands in the workplace. They cultivate defeatism and send the workers away from the trade unions.
With their attitude, they not only help and support the government, by giving space and time for a series of reactionary, anti-workers’ reforms to pass without resistance, but they also prove their full agreement and identification, to the demands of the industrialists and the big capitalists, their alliance with all the parties that support the system of exploitation.
We call the workers and their unions to take the situation in their hands. To strengthen the struggle, with action and initiatives in the industries and the workplaces. To strengthen mass procedures, their General Assemblies, meetings.
We call on the Regional Labor Centers and the National Federations to take decisions for General Strike when the government brings bil with the antiworkers measures to the Parliament.
We are fighting and demanding
The reestablishment of minimum wage on the levels it was before. The reestablishment of Sectoral and Branch Level Collective Contracts. Increases in wages, pensions and social benefits, to recover the losses, and basic needs.
To put an end to all antiworkers’ laws and measures, the memorandums.
No house of working-class families falls into the hands of a banker.
Stop constant taxing
We are fighting because we have to defend our only weapon, our right to strike, organization, collective struggle and action.
We fight because we do not tolerate employers' intimidations and repression in the workplace!

We fight to strengthen the struggles against privatizations, against the delivery of public wealth to business groups.
Every factory and place of work, each neighborhood to become the core of action and resistance, so that not only the new measures will not pass, but also with our struggle the previous ones to be abolished. Image

No worker, no unemployed person should be fooled and believe that the attack will stop, that someone else will stop it for us. Only the organized class struggle of the working people can overturn this situation.
We have the power, the right! Everybody in the fight!

Source: All-Workers Militant Front (PAME).

https://communismgr.blogspot.gr/2018/01 ... h-new.html
"There is great chaos under heaven; the situation is excellent."

Post Reply