The outcome of the ongoing battle against austerity will define the future not only of the Greeks but also the future of the European people who struggle for more democracy and equality.
During the previous governments, Greece used to be a guinea pig but now is a positive example which some forces want to smash.
Therefore, there is a need for building a militant European social and political front against the pressure of the EU institutions, leading to the suffocation of the Greek society, and to the restart of the austerity programmes implemented already for 4 years by the previous governments with catastrophic results. The Greek people, by their mandate of the 25 January, condemned the austerity policies, as well as the anti-labour laws and the privatization programmes. The policies supported by SYRIZA have adopted the demands of the trade union and social movements of Europe for the last 10 years, and now we need the support of these movements in order to repel these pressures and to proceed with the progressive programme of social justice. The European Establishment needs to punish the counter-paradigm of social justice and democracy defended by the representatives of Greek people, because they’re afraid of it: Do not let them do it!
In the period from now till the upcoming June, negotiations are taking place among the Greek Government and the European Institutions. The economic elite find it difficult to accept that someone challenges their policies and propose an alternative plan for economy. They are using all means to blackmail the Greek people and its Government. Show us we are not alone in this fight!
We must put pressure on these institutions to cease this unacceptable behavior and make them accept that it is the citizens of Europe who must decide for their future. Based on the recent decisions of the Athens meeting on the 2nd of May, we, a broad coalition of social organizations, unions and networks, intellectuals, artists, migrant organizations and various left, green and progressive political powers being active in Greece, propose international actions between the 20 and the 26th of June in order to create the positive social and political environment that will support the Greek struggle. Moreover we are willing to host an event here in Athens on the 27th to share ours and yours experiences of mobilizations and solidarity. It is significant to transform the European peoples from passive viewers to active players of this story.
This event will provide the necessary space to these actors in order to express their concern regarding the negotiations but mainly to bring to the surface the necessity of counterweighting the systemic pressures against the Greek Government’s demands against austerity and for social justice. It is of the outmost importance the necessity to send a clear political message. The Greek society doesn’t stand alone. We need to demonstrate that all of us are decided to support all the long time demands of the movement, which the Greek people by voting a left government to support them, decided to break the neoliberal consensus. Solidarity and massive popular support will give the best to a clash among our side and the European political and economic elite.
Let’s fight for a Europe of dignity and solidarity and against a Europe of profit, a Europe Fortress. We call all the social and political forces to be part of the week of solidarity and to build strong national coalitions backing the European struggle against austerity.
Find the map of mobilisations at Change4all
Signatories
Unionists
Trachanatzis Stathis – General Secretary of Athens Labour Unions Organization & Member of the Board of the General Confederation of Greek Workers
Amplas Themistocles – Chairman of the Board of Greek Transport Trade Union Federation
Kioutsokioglou-Poulaki Anna – General Secretary Panhellinc Federation of Tax Employees .
Nouchakis Stavros – President of the Panhellenic Federation of Medical Representatives, Related Professions Pharmaceutical Industry
Stamatis Theodoropoulos – Board Member GENOP / PPC
Karagounis Athanasios – Board member of the Federation Administrative Employees Manpower Employment Organisation
Parasoglou Vangelis – Chairman of the Board of the Association of Workers in BSH
Pasalidis Costas – Board Member SPARTAKOS / PPC
Capella Kazatza Dimitrios – Board Member GENOP / PPC, Member of the Labour Centre of Trikala
Moutakis Fotis – member DEI GENOP
Xydakis Nikos – President of the Union of Electric Workers Bus Athens Piraeus
Κelepoyris Paraskevas – member of the board of Electric Workers Bus Athens Piraeus
Saridakis Antonis – member of the board of Electric Workers Bus Athens Piraeus
Fragos John – member of the board of Electric Workers Bus Athens Piraeus
Ziogas Apostolis – member of the board of Electric Workers Bus Athens Piraeus
Karasoulos Dimitris – President member of the board of Electric administrators Employees Bus Athens Piraeus
Kakoyros Dimitris – President administrators of the board of Electric Workers Bus Athens Piraeus
Vouziouris Alex – President of administrators employees of Road Transport
Tegea Michael – Secretary Union Technical PPC / Aitoloakarnania
Kastrounis Sotiris – President BTB–EIF / PPC Paros
Mihalatos Thomas-Dimitrios – Board Member GENOP / PPC
Dimitris Papachristou – Chairman of the Workers’ Association Board of Directors in Nursing Home Athens
Paloukas Lefteris – Board Member GENOP / PPC
Damianos Vassilis – Board Pensioners Federation PPC
Nouchoutidis Maria – Board Pensioners Federation PPC
Nouchoutidis George – ex. President Dockers Piraeus
Apollonatos Memangelos – Board member of the Association of Hospital Workers IASO
Lampos Socrates – President Association Medical Representatives Athens
Kalavanos John – Board member of Union Workers newsagents Athens
Boutsinas Stavros – Board member of Bank of Piraeus Workers Association
Taliakos Dimitris – Board of Association of Employees Bank Piraeus
Bellios Fotis – Board of Association of Employees Bank Piraeus
Arabpatzi Nasa – Member of Audit Committee of Association of Employees Bank Piraeus
Papatriantafyllou Nikos – board member of the General Confederation of Greek Workers and member of the board of the National Bank Employees Association
Mylonas Giorgos – Deputy Executive Secretary of Athens Labour Unions Organization
Anastasiou Yannis – member of the Executive Secretariat of the Federation Employees of Bank
Kavadias Antonis – member of Executive Secretarial of the Federation Employees of Bank
Tziva Emilia – member of the General Council of the Federation Employees of Bank
Nicholaou Naya – board member of the Association of Employees of the bank Eurobank
Sklavainas Andreas – board member of the Association of Employees of the bank Eurobank
Spyropoulos George – board member of the Association of Employees of the bank Eurobank
Kanavou Joanna – board member of the Association of Employees of the National Bank
Petropoulos George – Member of the Executive Committee of ADEDY
Kalomoiris Gregory – Member of the Executive Committee of ADEDY
Mercia Dimitris – Member of the Executive Committee of ADEDY
Zografaki Eleni – Vice OLME
Harisis George – General Secretary of POST and member of the General Council of the Panhellenic Federation of Workers of Local Government organizations
Vassilis Gkitakos – Vice Panhellenic Federation of Workers of Local Government organizations
Monastiridis Minas – member of the Executive Committee of the Panhellenic Federation of Workers of Local Government–organizations
Organizations
DIKTIO (NETWORK FOR POLITICAL AND SOCIAL RIGHTS)
NETWORK OF IMMIGRANTS AND POLITICAL REFUGEES
NIKOS POULANTZAS INSTITUTE
SOLIDARITY FOR ALL
ATTAC GREECE
OPEN CITY (PLATFORM FOR THE MUNICIPALITY OF ATHENS)
INITIATIVE FOR THE RIGHTS OF PRISONERS
SAVE ACHELOOS RIVER
ECOLOGISTS RADICALS
NETWORK OF YOUNG PRECARIOUS EMPLOEEYS
OBSERVATORY OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS AND GLOBALISATION
CO–ORDINATING COMMITTEE OF THE CLEANING WOMEN OF THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE
Activists/ public personalities
ALBANIS YANNIS – member of the Organizing Committee of the ESF Athens
BIRBAS DIMITRIS – Mayor of Municipality of Egaleo city
GEORGOULAS STRATOS – Assistant Professor of the University of Aegean and member of the Council of the Municipality of island Lesvos
GIANNOPOULOS NIKOS – member of the Organizing Committee of the ESF Athens
KALIVIS ALEKOS – ex deputy President of GSEE
KOUMARIANOS GRIGORIS – Vice Mayor of Municipality of New Filadelfia city
PEPES ZOIS – ex member of the General Secretariat of GSEE (Central Federation of Greek Workers)
TRIGAZIS PANOS – President of the Observatory of International Organisations and Globalisation
VASILOPOULOS ARIS – Mayor of Municipality of New Filadelfia city
LAMTZIDIS MANOLIS – Member of the City Council of Kalmaria