(15 February 2012) The European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) mobilized for solidarity on Friday 10th February in Brussels following a call by one of its Belgian affiliates to demonstrate outside the Greek Permanent representation to the European Union (EU). At that time, Greece was living a 48 hours General strike against the austerity measures imposed by the troika (International Monetary Fund, European Central Bank and EU).
EPSU also sent a message to all its affiliates asking to send support messages to its Greek affiliate ADEDY. Public sector workers in Greece have been targeted by this 'catastroika' that is ruining the country, plunging it into an even deeper and sharper crisis. Below are some of the messages that some of our affiliates had sent to Greek colleagues in this time of much needed European solidarity.
EPSU will continue to mobilize against this unfair attacks on workers who have been asked to pay for the crisis. This crisis, we will not get tired of repeating it, was not caused by workers and they should not be asked to pay for it!
In this light, EPSU will be mobilizing in Brussels on the European decentralized day of action called by the European Trade Union Confederation ETUC as well as it will call all its affiliates to demonstrate against the proposed European treaty in all European countries.
Below read some of the messages sent to Greek unions on strike:
From Sindicato dos Quadros Técnicos do Estado, Portugal
Dear Colleagues,
Portuguese STE board stands in solidarity with your 48 h general strike this Friday and tomorrow against your Governmental proposal to reduce the minimum wage and to abolish collective agreements both in public and private sector.
We are a public sector union who represents a large spectrum at national, regional and local level.
Yours sincerely,
Leodolfo Bettencourt
Président
SINDICATO DOS QUADROS TÉCNICOS DO ESTADO
E ENTIDADES COM FINS PÚBLICOS
From SINTAP, Portugal
Chers collègues
Au nom du SINTAP et de tous ses représentants et associés, nous tenons à vous exprimer notre plus sincère solidarité, notamment avec la grève générale de 48h qui a lieu actuellement en Grèce.
Votre grève qui a pour but de lutter contre la réduction du salaire minimum à 520€ et l’abolition des conventions collectives est des plus justes dans la défense des fonctionnaires publics et du peuple grec. Alors que la Grèce est soumise au programme d’assistance économique et financière et se prépare à perdre un nombre considérable de ses fonctionnaires publics nous compatissons entièrement des conditions de vie auxquelles sont assujetties vos compatriotes.
En cette période difficile, veuillez recevoir, chers collègues tout notre soutien et amitié.
Cordialement,
Jorge Nobre dos Santos
Secrétaire-Général
SINTAP - Departamento Internacional
From FSP-UGT, Spain
Dear Ilias, dear sisters and brothers,
On behalf of all the affiliates from the Spanish Federation of Public Services (FSP-UGT) I wish to express our solidarity with all our friends and colleagues from ADEDY and the working people of Greece, struggling for maintaining quality public services through decent public work and fair conditions, collective bargaining agreements, and fundamental rights.
The unacceptable attacks to the pension system of hundreds of thousands of Greek people, to the minimum wages, and the pointless, fearful attack to public employees and their unions, together with the massive lay-offs, etc. breaks into pieces social dialogue, impoverishes the whole country and can only lead to social uprising. The work you are doing to protect quality public services and fair work is vital to protect the most vulnerable members of our societies. Decent wages and fair working conditions are key factors for cohesion in our societies. But the “Catastroika” seems to be only interested in creating misery for the people of Greece.
We stand with you and I truly hope that your fight, your general strike, will be successful. Be assured that throughout your fight you will always enjoy the unconditional support of FSP-UGT.
In solidarity,
Julio Lacuerda Castelló,
Secretary General
Message de la fédération santé action sociale CGT, France
Chers camarades,
Au nom de ma fédération santé action sociale CGT, je vous transmets tous nos vœux de pleine réussite pour votre action de mobilisations et de grève débutée ce jour.
Votre légitime refus de cette politique d'austérité, dont seuls les travailleurs, actifs, retraités et chômeurs font les frais, traduit la maltraitance sociale faite aux peuples.
Les revendications, pour une plus juste répartition des richesses sont partagées par l'ensemble des travailleurs européens et au delà.
C'est dans ce contexte, que l'appel de la CES du 29 février offre une réelle opportunité de rejeter, tous ensemble, les mesures toujours plus destructrices des droits sociaux, amenant les populations à l'apauvrissement et à l'exploitation.
Votre lutte est juste, elle acte un appel sans nuance à un monde meilleur, des conditions de vie, de travail plus humaines et à des pays plus solidaires.
Chers camarades, au nom de toute notre fédération, nous vous souhaitons une mobilisation massive et victorieuse et vous assurons de toute notre solidarité.
Recevez chers camarades nos salutations les plus fraternelles.
Nathalie GAMIOCHIPI,
Secrétaire générale de la fédération santé action sociale CGT
Message de la Fédération CGT des Services Publics, France
COMMUNIQUE DE L'UD-FO 75, France
En GRÈCE, Nième plan de rigueur.
A PARIS, soutien de FO aux travailleurs Grecs
From the Trade Union Federation of Municipal and Local Economy Workers, Poland
The Trade Union Federation of Municipal and Local Economy Workers in Poland sends its solidarity greetings to all Greek workers striking to protest against the proposal to reduce the minimum wage to 520€ and to abolish collective agreements .
We support our Greek colleagues in their struggle and wish them success.
President of FZZPGKiT in Poland,
Edward Staszczak
From the PANCYPRIAN PUBLIC EMPLOYEES TRADE UNION PA.SY.D.Y., Cyprus
From the Norwegian Union of Municipal and General Employees, Norway
Fagforbundet in Norway sends it’s full support and solidarity to our colleagues in Adedy.
We support your struggle to stop the negative development in your country and wish you success in the fight against austerity.
Regards,
FAGFORBUNDET (Norwegian Union of Municipal and General Employees)
Jan Davidsen,
President
From the Trade Union of Health Service and Social Care of the Czech republic
From Unite the Union, United Kingdom
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
We write to express our solidarity with you the workers of Greece.
We applaud your opposition against the proposal to reduce the minimum wage to 520€ and to abolish collective agreements. The workers least able to afford further economic austerity are being punished for the mistakes of global capitalism.
Unite is by your side and with you in the fight for justice for workers.
Regards,
Gail Cartmail,
Assistant General Secretary, Services
UNITE the Union
From the Asociación Funcionarios Hospital Dipreca, Chile
Hello!
We're a public hospital Union from Chile,our confederationis ANEF CHILE (part of the PSI), we send this message of solidarity to all our Greeks colleagues in this difficult moment, in Chile in the past two years we've seen thousands or our workers loose their jobs, we know what this terrible problem means for people and their families.
We hope you keep your strength up and keep fighting for what's fair for the vast majorities!!!
Fabiola Meneses, Hospital Dipreca Workers Union,
Santiago, Chile
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