About seamen's last month strike in Greece

international | worker & community struggles and protests | opinion/analysis Friday March 10, 2006 21:28 by Ergazomenos (Working Man)

While Greek government blamed seamen for paralyzing the country’s transport network due to their strike action last month, and forced them back to work by means of “civil mobilization”, some island residents that were supposed to be harmed by the strike, actually stood on the sailor’s side and supported their demands. A short translated text follows, explaining why.

We declare our unreserved solidarity to the rightfully struggling Greek seamen, because we, as island residents, know very well the exploitation and blackmail practices exerted by ship-owners. Moreover, we have also suffered a lot due to the ship-owners' impunity and their subordinate politicians cover-up tactics, as in the case of 81 dead of the "Samina" shipwreck. The government dares to talk about seamen's privileges while that very sector presents one of the highest unemployment rates (25%), with flexible working hours and unpaid overtime work being the norm. The state's response to the modest demands by seamen was the requisition of their services. At the same time, industry owners are financially supported for the purpose of dragging their companies out of the country to neighbouring ones with lower wages, tax rates for big enterprises are cut down from 40% to 20% and more... At this period, shipping capital has the highest profit in the framework of Greek national economy: 150 families earn the 46.4% of the GNP, while the state fully supports their demands and their greed. To sum up, full liberalisation of the market means: a) higher economy class fares (which during the last few years had already climbed up by 120%), b) reduced on board staff and more flexible working relations c) isolation of islands that are not considered to be profitable. Ship-owners demand that obligatory 10 months/year service be abolished. Moreover, abolition of ships age limit is under discussion, together with giving ship-owners and captains the right to decide on sailing despite prohibitive weather conditions. Having in mind that currently ship-owners are granted 300 mio euros yearly to do us the favour of reaching our islands during winter time, we can realize how close their ties with the state are, and how strongly they and the state support each other. For years, we have been hostages of their dangerous ships, and of a policy which transformed transportation from a social good into an expensive commodity. As we can see the hypocrisy and suffer the injustice, we say: to hell with state and ship-owners! Solidarity to Seamen!

Autonomous Initiative from Naxos Island

(collectively translated by anonymous users of athens.indymedia.org)