Report by Kamgar Ekta Committee (KEC) correspondent
Thousands of workers from the public and private sector came together in Athens, Greece on the 1st October. Two demonstrations were organised in the central Athens to protest against changes in the national labour laws. Multiple demonstrations across cities in Greece also took place.
The new labour laws allow stretching the working day to a 13-hour shift with overtime. Under the new laws, working hours over a week including overtime would be capped at 48 hours a week. The maximum overtime hours allowed in a year would be capped at 150 hours. The Unions, representing workers from private and public sectors, explained how these changes will be used to exploit the workers by having extended working hours. They said that such a change in the labour law works only in the favour of the employers and not the workers.
Workers from different sectors and across public and private sectors participated in the strike at central Athens. No taxis were run for a duration of 24 hours to mark the protests of the workers. Trains, trams and buses ran with limited availability. The effect of striking workers was felt across the nation. Multiple workers’ unions, both from private as well as public sector, took active part in the strike.
Workers are demanding to go back to the 37.5 hour working week and return of the collective bargaining agreements. They are determined to strongly oppose such exploitative changes to the labour laws across all sectors.
The united fight of workers across all sectors in Greece is truly inspiring. The right to an 8 hour working day was not something that was given to the working class for free. It was a right that was won by the relentless fight of the workers. Today we see such changes being proposed in India as well. Implementing such changes to the labour laws exposes the true nature of the governments, across the world, that serve the interests of the ruling minority of capitalists and not of the workers. Such exploitative laws only benefit the capitalists and leaves workers vulnerable for abuse at the hands of their employers who are focused on maximizing their profits.
We support the just struggle of workers in Greece to fight for their right for fair working hours.
