The Chinese Multinational COSCO yesterday filed a suit demanding the workers’ strike be called illegal and stopped. Based on the new anti-trade union legislation imposed by the SYRIZA-ANEL Government the Court of Piraeus convened immediately and called the Strike illegal.
Earlier the employers had tried to break the strike using strikebreakers and fascists. When they did not succeed to enter through the picket lines, they used a small boat to reach the docks from the sea, but this attempt failed also.
Within these developments, the dockworkers in the Port of Piraeus held a massive General Assembly yesterday evening at the gates of the cargo Port. At the Meeting they read messages of International Solidarity and with the presence of PAME and Unions from all over Athens, who expressed their solidarity and condemnation to the tactics of the Company and the Government.
Based on the class solidarity, militant spirit and determination to continue the struggle for Collective Contract, the workers decided to continue their Strike for a 3rd day.
In order to support the Strike, the Regional Trade Union of Piraeus, where the leadership is of PAME, decided to call for Strike in COSCO dockworkers.
The Workers Demand:
- Stop the anti-union tactics of COSCO
- Signing of Collective Contract with better working conditions and salaries.
- Full time steady jobs.
- Abolishment of Flexible Working Relations.
- Health and Safety Regulations.
Call for Solidarity With the Dock Workers in Port of Piraeus who Continue Strike for 2nd Day
The workers in the port of Piraeus, which is owned by the Chinese company COSCO continue their strike for 2nd day after the company attempted to break the workers participation to the National General Strike of May 30.
COSCO on the afternoon of May 29 attempted to intimidate the workers not to participate in the strike by issuing a statement that it will call for the arrest and persecution of anyone who tries to stop the company from functioning during the strike. COSCO named the workers Union as an organization that promotes violence and uses threats to pressure workers. At the same time COSCO forced workers who were inside the workplace to stay after their shift was over so as not to stop work. This way COSCO attempted to intimidate workers and stop any picket lines. This way COSCO wanted to block any effort of the union to fight for collective contract and stop the extreme exploitation of the workers by COSCO.
The workers of Piraeus and PAME gave a militant response to COSCO by calling the workers of Piraeus to hold their Strike Demonstration in front of the gates of COSCO! Thousands of workers went to the port of Piraeus and expressed their solidarity with the workers of COSCO and their Union.
Under the pressure of thousands of workers COSCO was forced to shut down all operations for even the few workers who were forced to stay inside. For the first time COSCO shut down 100% during a strike!
The workers of COSCO responded to the call of their Union and held a massive General Assembly immediately where they decided unanimously to continue the Strike for a 2nd day on May 31 and demand the signing of Collective Contract with better working conditions and salaries.
The developments in COSCO reveal that the big business groups use the new anti-trade union laws imposed by SYRIZA-ANEL government to attack workers’ organization and struggle. But at the same time class solidarity and militant action can support workers and respond to the aggressiveness of the Governments and the Business Groups.
We Call All Unions to express their Class Solidarity with the dockworkers in the Port of Piraeus and their strike
Stop the intimidations of COSCO
For the Signing of Collective Contract with better working conditions and salaries. Full time steady jobs. Abolishment of Flexible Working Relations. Health and Safety Regulations
PHOTOS from the Strike and the workers Assembly: