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Victoria Mindova

Greek unions have united once again in a nationwide strike against financial cuts in public and private sectors. The protest was organised by the union of civil servants (ADEDY) and the union of private sector employees (GSEE) and a separate march, but with the same demands, involved the unionists of the Greek Communist Party (PAME). The protest began with a meeting in front of the building of the GSEE at 11.00 am, but the participation of citizens in the early hours was extremely low. The main activists remain trade unionists and members of employment organizations, and students. It is estimated that between 15-20 thousand people took part in the protest but police have not submitted the exact number yet. Anarchist organizations, which are composed mainly of young people aged between 15 and 25 years, took a significant part in the protest march. Despite their reputation, the protest march took place peacefully and there was no violence.

The main slogans that people were shouting were the familiar ones: "Take your Memorandum and get out of here" and "This government is not for people, and for banks and bankers", "Papademos, resign and take the Troika with you", "I will not pay any tax at any city hall." The protest march started from the offices of the union of private sector employees at one o'clock in the afternoon, passed through Omonia Square, continued along Stadiou Avenue to arrive at the well-known Syntagma Square outside the parliament building. The riot forces were deployed but fortunately, their services were not necessary. At about 2.30 pm the protesters began to disperse, and the procession broke up.

Discontented Greeks’ lack of enthusiasm was not reminiscent of the strikes and protests witnessed a few months ago, when citizens and trade unionists, inspired to fight shoulder to shoulder, were ready to face the police, break into Parliament, live their own revolution. Although people are apparently tired of strikes and many of them understand that they don't have much effect, they continue to be organized and have a specific audience. The only fire that keeps them going, say local journalists, is the fact that in general, nobody likes the measures that should be introduced and those, which are already in force, are highly unjust in social terms.

"We will not surrender, we will continue the social struggle, until employers understand that workers will not accept redundancies, wage cuts and violation of people’s rights," thundered the megaphones in the centre of Athens. All state enterprises, including transport companies took part in the strike, but the electric train and the subway in the capital had announced they would work from 9.00 am to 9.00 pm to serve the protest. Trains in Greece are not running, hospitals are working with emergency personnel and all departments of the public administration are closed for 24 hours. The promise of trade unions is that the protests will continue.