All Organisations subcategories:
Committee for a Workers International
Nationalist and National Liberation
Pro capitalist and Imperialist
Left and radical keywords:
International Socialist Resistance (54)
Revolutionary Communist League (1)
Socialist Peoples Party (Denmark) (1)
Syriza
Highlight keywords |
Print this article
Search site for keywords: Greece - Strike - General strike - Austerity - CWI - Socialist - EU - Syriza - Xekinima - IMF - Debt - Anti-austerity
Greek general strike: more needed to defeat austerity
Greek workers in struggle: greece, photo Ged Travers (Click to enlarge)
Public transport was brought to a halt on 6 May as Greek workers began a 48-hour general strike against austerity.
The Greek TUCs in the private and public sectors called the strike in protest against the Syriza-led government voting for another tranche of austerity measures as part of the 'Troika'-imposed (European Central Bank, EU and International Monetary Fund) bailout package.
These measures will further impoverish workers and pensioners already suffering years of devastating cuts in living standards. Social security contributions will rise, as will income tax. Top-up pensions for low-income earners will be phased out.
But while the economic screws have been tightened on Greece, differences have emerged between the IMF and the EU leaders over the political risks of imposing such severe austerity, given Greece's inability to repay the 'debt'.
Labour minister George Katrougalos complained that successive bailouts since 2010 have shrunk the country's national wealth by 25%.
But some of this decline has taken place under 'left wing' Syriza's watch - despite being elected in January 2015 on an anti-austerity agenda and despite voters explicitly rejecting Troika bailout demands in a July 2015 referendum.
Workers have staged numerous general strikes against cuts and to defend living standards. But this tenacity has not been matched by the leaders of labour organisations who have called token general strikes instead of organising a serious struggle against capitalism and for a socialist political alternative.
Xekinima (CWI Greece) has consistently campaigned within the trade unions and wider working class for such an alternative strategy.
Analysis and updates on www.socialistworld.net
CWI
The Committee for a Workers' International (CWI) is the socialist international organisation to which the Socialist Party is affiliated.
The CWI is organised in 45 countries and works to unite the working class and oppressed peoples against global capitalism and to fight for a socialist world.
www.socialistworld.net
Donate to the Socialist Party
Finance appeal
The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.
LATEST POSTS
12 May Stop Israeli state brutality
 |
9 May Post-election meetings
15 May Birmingham Socialist Party: How can we fight for socialist change and a new workers' party?
17 May Oxfordshire & Aylesbury Socialist Party: The role of the state
18 May Bristol North Socialist Party: Liverpool - history of socialist struggle
CONTACT US
Phone our national office on 020 8988 8777
Email: [email protected]
Locate your nearest Socialist Party branch Text your name and postcode to 07761 818 206
Regional Socialist Party organisers:
Eastern: 079 8202 1969
East Mids: 077 3797 8057
London: 075 4018 9052
North East: 078 4114 4890
North West 079 5437 6096
South West: 077 5979 6478
Southern: 078 3368 1910
Wales: 079 3539 1947
West Mids: 024 7655 5620
Yorkshire: 078 0983 9793
ABOUT US
ARCHIVE
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999