Steelworkers demonstrate in Athens on the 48th day of strike

A massive demonstration of workers undergoing the 48th day of strike in the “GREEK STEELWORKS” (Helliniki Halivourgia) industry, against layoffs and wages cuts, was held today in Athens center.
In the demonstration also took part other workers unions like PAME (KKE), and students who stand with solidarity to the struggle of steelworkers.
Steelworkers are calling also for support in all ways possible : resolutions, announcements, press releases by trade unions, neighborhoods, youth and women organizations, everywhere, outside the Factorys gate, financial aid and gathering food for the strikers families.

Message given to the public by the workers of the “GREEK STEELWORKS” (Helliniki Halivourgia) industry:

"We, the 400 workers of the “GREEK STEELWORKS” (Helliniki Halivourgia) industry, are on strike, like a fist, for the 16th day. And we continue! We do not move back, we have chosen the path of honor and dignity, to defend the bread and the future of our children.
We do not return to work, in fire and iron, for 500€. We demand, our 34 colleagues, who were laidoff, to return to work. Our struggle concerns the whole working class.
The employer of “GREEK STEELWORKS” is the battering ram of the industrialists.
The “GREEK STEELWORKS” is the first industry that attempts to impose 5hour working day with wage cuts, flexible employment relationships, unpaid overtime and to remove security rights by blackmailing us with losing our jobs.
The layoffs were made to terrorize us, because on our General Assembly we unanimously rejected the employers demand to work part-time, 5 hours a day, with a 40% wage cut. At the same time our hard work, increased the production last year from 196,000 to 266,000 tonnes, hard work with daily labor accidents and a dead worker.
The employer’s profits are immense, and he continues to blackmail that if we do not accept his demands to work as slaves, he will lay off 180 more workers.
The steelworkers gave him the right answer. We overcame fear, blackmails, the threat of hunger. We went on strike!
We are standing up. We are already victorious. No one can bend us!
The industrialists, in the factories around, were waiting for us to have got tired, to have returned to work with our heads bowed, to have signed working for 5hours a day. The employer admitted that he did not expect such a struggle! We have proven that workers have endless power. For 16 days, 24hours a day, we guard our strike. They felt our power and we have been taught a lot more. We can distinguish friends from enemies.
We rely on the power of solidarity. Dozens trade unions supports from day one. PAME stands on our side. Support steelworkers struggle in every way.
For the steelworker there in no way back!
If we lose, the door opens for 5hour working day and labor jungle to the other factories, which is what the industrialists await. The steelworkers’ victory will be a victory of the whole working class. That is why we want you on our side.
Thus far! Terror, blackmails and the attack against workers shall not pass!
Support the strikers steelworkers in all ways possible: resolutions, announcements, press releases by trade unions, neighborhoods, youth and women organizations, everywhere, outside the Factory’s gate, financial aid and gathering food for the strikers’ families.
We denounce to all workers, the leadership of the Federations of Workers in Metal Sector, and of the Regional Trade Union of Elefsina, which during those 16 days, not only they did not call a single meeting, in order to organize a solidarity campaign, but they “advise” us to bow our heads, they slander us, they try to divide us. We call workers to bypass them and to organize in every workplace.
Victory will be hard, but it will be ours!"