Greek steelworkers statement

Statement of the trade union of the workers of “Helliniki Halivourgia”
(Greek Steelworks)

“The board of the trade union of the workers of “Helliniki Halivourgia” condemns the attempt of the fascist organisation “Chrisi Avgi” and other groups to provoke slander and discredit our heroic struggle.

“Crisi Avgi”, has been against our struggle since the beginning as it does in all workers’ and people’s struggles.

It defended the industrialist Manesis saying that his proposals for dismissals and a 5-hour workday were “reasonable under the difficult situation of the market”; that every company exists for this reason, to make profit.

Since the beginning, Chrisi Avgi accused our trade union of being “intransigent and lead by outsiders” that the trade union’s stance “leads the factory to closure”.

Chrisi Avgi tried to create a conflict between our colleagues from the factory of Volos and us, arguing that we strike because we have ensured high redundancy payments unlike our colleagues in Volos.

When they saw that this reactionary slander had no result, that the steelworkers continued proudly their struggle against Manesis and his class as a whole, that this struggle met the support of the working people in Greece, of workers from all over the world as well as of immigrant workers who work in Greece, they decided to use other underhand means to attack our struggle.

On the 109th day of strike, Chrisi Avgi suddenly visited the factory under the pretext of bringing material support. After taking photos of the pasta and the bottles of water they had brought, which were “decorated” with revolting pre-election slogans (which we saw after them leaving), and after them videotaping their presence, they played their well known role.

By means of various statements they started provoking our struggle, the board of the union and its leaders. At the same time, a few other groups used this as an opportunity to say openly, what they have been hiding for so long i.e. that they also utilize our strike to their interest, without agreeing with our struggle and its content.

We answer to all of them that they are too small, to criticize and slander the struggle of the steelworkers. The steelworkers are expressed through the decisions of their General Assemblies and the board of their union. These decisions reflect the class content and orientation of our struggle, our demands.

We reiterate that we ask for the solidarity of all workers. But we state clearly, once more, that the struggle of the steelworkers can neither be disoriented nor bought off, under the pretext of material support. Hundreds of trade unions, mass organizations and thousands of workers from Greece and the rest of the world have responded to our call since the beginning, organisations with which we have many different opinions, goals and directions.

We are aware that some do not offer material support in order to help, but they hope for other things. We state that the steelworkers are not for the teeth of Chrisi Avgi and other so called revolutionaries. The steelworkers are part of the organised class oriented movement that was and is the basic supporter of their struggle. It is no coincidence that all these groups attack PAME, inside and outside Greece, which PAME has been the basic supporter of our struggle and is now organising a campaign all over Greece for the financial support of our struggle. We call the steelworkers to isolate those who cause damage to our struggle. We say to Manesis and his people, that they fool themselves, if they believe that they will provoke and break the solidarity movement with our struggle. Provocations will not succeed.

We struggle for all Greece to become “Hallivourgia”