Brussels, 2 December 2015
Following their successful mobilisation on 12 November, EPSU sends its solidarity to the ADEDY and GSEE confederations for their next general strike on 3 December.
The Greek people are facing the threat of further cuts to the welfare state as a result of the conditions imposed by the European Commission in relation to the latest financial assistance package. If the measures are implemented they will mean a major reform and cuts to the social security system along with the introduction of indirect taxes that will hit the poor.
EPSU agrees with ADEDY and GSEE that further austerity will do nothing to bolster the Greek economy(1) and a completely different approach is required. Rather than more cuts and privatisation, there needs to be alternative solutions that involve taxation of wealth and support for public ownership, debt relief and investment in the productive reconstruction of the country for the benefit of the people.
EPSU also supports in particular the call to strengthen the public sector with recruitment of staff on permanent contracts and reducing the reliance on temporary and agency work.
The call by GSEE and ADEDY is not just to workers but to all citizens who are suffering from years of austerity. We hope that they will support the strike action and join the demonstrations to show the scale of resistance to the measures demanded by the European Commission.
In Solidarity,
EPSU President, Annelie Nordstrom - EPSU General Secretary, Jan Willem Goudriaan
(1) Latest data from Elstat, the Greek statistical office, shows that Greece's economy continued to shrink. It contracted by 0.9% qoq in Q3, a steeper fall than the 0.5% estimate, or 1.1% yoy compared with an estimate of 0.4%. Investment plans have been delayed in this uncertain environment, with a fall in gross capital investment of 7% and capital controls led to a fall in exports by 7.1%. (Source Reuters) The Greek economy has contracted with 25% since start of the austerity measures.
Greece
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