Greek Government uses special forces
against striking seafarers

A call for solidarity

Strikes by marine engineers and engine-room ratings manning vessels of 
the Greek merchant fleet have been met with savage repression and physical 
attack. Militant strikes in April and May in support of the demand for 
union, insurance and pension rights and for public social insurance were 
attacked by special forces of the Port Authority and the Greek navy's 
under-water mission team. These anti-trade union and anti-worker attacks 
were organised by the social democrat Government of Greece.

Forty-seven strikers were wounded and hospitalised. Seven others were 
arrested, among them the President and the General Secretary of the Pan-
Hellenic Union of Merchant Marine Engineers (PEMEN). This union has a 
membership of 9000 engineers. The other union involved, covering engine-
room ratings (STEFENSON) has 3500 members.

In making the attacks the Greek Government tore up the Greek Constitution 
which declares that: "Any form of forced labour is forbidden" and that "The 
right to strike is exercised by legally founded trade unions with the 
preservation and promotion of the economic and general labour interests of 
the workers..."

The Government is using laws that were enacted by the 1970's government of 
the Greek military junta and, despite written assurances given in 1983, 
these laws have not been repealed.

It is now 28 years since the overthrow of the Greek military junta, yet 
their anti-trade union laws remain.

A statement issued by the engineers' union calls for international 
solidarity. "It is now more necessary than ever that the authoritarian and 
undemocratic action of the Greek Government to impose martial law on board 
Greek ships should be condemned", says a union statement.

"Seamen exercising their constitutional right are facing state violence and 
high-handedness under the guise of the legitimacy of civil mobilisation.

The union is demanding the immediate withdrawal of the civil mobilisation 
of Greek seafarers.

It says the "The collective action of the labour movement and the 
intensification of the struggle can be a decisive factor in the 
condemnation of the acts of terrorism imposed by the state and the 
employers, for the defence and expansion of the right to strike, for 
democratic rights and liberties, for the prosperity and progress of 
workers."

The Greek unions are being supported by the International Transport 
Workers' Federation which is currently holding its 40th Congress in 
Vancouver.

Readers are urged write, phone or fax the Greek embassy in Australia, 
condemning the use of the authoritarian and un-democratic actions by the 
Greek Government:

Canberra Embassy
9 Turrana Street, Yarralumla,
Canberra ACT 2600
Ph: 6273 3158, 6273 3011
Fax: 6273 2620

Messages of solidarity may be sent to PEMEN:
Fax: ++ 30 10 412 2606