National strike in Greece

Hundreds of thousands of Greek workers and employees 
participated in a general strike on March 31. The decision for 
the strike had been taken before the general elections of March 
7, and concerned the signing of the national collective labour 
bargaining agreement and a wide range of demands connected with 
it. The demonstrations were organised by the All Workers' 
Militant Front (PAME) and took place in cities and towns around 
Greece, including in Athens and Thessaloniki.

It was the first strike since the new government took office, and 
just a few days after the report presented by the director of the 
Bank of Greece calling for more austerity and more "reforms" of 
the social security system.

The strike was successful. Several industrial sectors were 
"frozen" and thousands of workers participated in the rallies and 
other actions of PAME demanding monthly basic salary of 1.100 
euros and minimum pension of 880 euros (one euro is approx 
A$1.65).

The social democrat-conservative majority of the GSEE (General 
Confederation of Greek Workers), which pursues the line of class 
collaboration and social consensus, has their limited the demands 
to 560 euros per month basic salary. Needless to say these forces 
were practically absent from the rallies and demonstrations 
around the country.

The General Secretary of the Communist Party of Greece, Aleka 
Paparigha, speaking to the press stated that "Today, the struggle 
for substantial increases, for real free and public social 
security system, is not only a struggle of the workers against 
the employers.

It has to be a comprehensive struggle, also aiming against the 
government, against the logic of Euro-submission and the "EU-
oneways". The struggle brings results when it is systematic, 
stubborn and politicised."

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Acknowledgements to Communist Party of Greece