Strikes of teachers & local elections in Greece

The teachers of primary schools continue their strike for their 4th week that started on 18th of September. The teachers’ national federation demands rises in their salaries, and increase of the public spending for education. They also speak out against the privatization of education, reject the so-called “evaluation system” and criticize the new programmes and books.

The government has so far rejected their demands, claiming that the “country’s economy cannot bear the demands” and has resorted to authoritarian measures and oppression. Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis has reiterated his “steadfast commitment to promoting the reforms in education”.

Last Monday a police officer was identified using an iron fist against strikers. This incident provoked vocal reactions from the trade unions, but the deputy government spokesperson Evangelos Antonaros provided cover to this unacceptable action stating that "the Government condemns and rejects all kinds of behaviour that are out of line. And this goes for everyone, regardless of whether they are policemen with iron fists or protestors with wooden blocks."

The incident was condemned by the KKE Secretary General Aleka Papariga who following her meeting with DOE (Greek Primary Teachers Federation) expressed the support of KKE to the demands and the struggle fo the teachers and stressed that “if the Government had Education among its top priorities, then it would never say that the Economy cannot afford any more raises nor would it use iron fists in the protests."

The high school teachers also took action with a 24hours strike on Thursday, while a series of students associations also joined the protests and the rallies.

All Workers Militant Front (PAME) has called on the trade unions to stand by the side of the teachers and organized mass solidarity rallies.

The whole of the KKE parliamentary group has filed an interpellation to Education Minister Marietta Giannakou, adopting the teachers’ demands. "Apart from their fair demands, the ongoing collective actions by teachers bring to the surface the deeper problems in Education," was mentioned in the text of the interpellation.

Local Elections

The country heads for the local elections that will take place in two rounds on 15 and 22 of October. KKE cooperates all around Greece with forces, parties and movements that have joined their efforts with the communists in recent fights in various fronts of struggle, and especially in PAME, in the Peace Movements and in the campaigns for the democratic rights, namely the DIKKI party (Democratic Social Movement), the Communist Renewal and the Left Citizens’ Intervention all around Greece.

KKE calls upon the working people to seize the opportunity and condemn in the elections the policies of New Democracy and PASOK, as well as the policy of Synapsismos that runs in coalition with PASOK in a broad number of municipalities.