The class unions organized multi-faceted strike events throughout the country in spite of the ND government decision to move May Day on Tuesday. Thousands of people, workers, young men and women gathered today in Syntagma Square, Athens, in a demonstration organized by dozens of unions that participate in the ranks of the All-Workers’ Militant Front (PAME), thus sending a powerful message against the anti-labour policies of the government.
The event was attended by a delegation of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) headed by General Secretary Dimitris Koutsoumbas.
"After a decade of continuous anti-labour measures imposed by New Democracy, PASOK and SYRIZA, the current governent is coming to deal a devastating blow to all worker rights. We are all of us here today, united, because we are fighting so that all anti-labour laws are abolished", stated Koutsoumbas to reporters. "We reject the 10-hour working day and this monstrous draft law should not be tabled in parliament. We defend union action and the freedom of all workers," the General Secretary concluded.
The rally expressed its solidarity with the workers and the people of Colombia, while a message from Joaquin Romero of the Colombian Single Federation of Mining and Energy Workers and Vice President of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) was transmitted. The event concluded with a cultural programme and the singing of the "Internationale".
Similar events, honoring the International Workers' Day, took place in all major Greek cities. In Thessaloniki the protesters gathered at Venizelos' Square and marched throughout the city center, ending up outside the Ministry of Macedonia and Thrace.
