News from the bookworkers strike called on the 18th of June (Athens - Greece) ---- On
Wednesday the 18 June, was a day of strike action in the book industry. Our Union together
with several colleagues from other worker's unions, collectives of workers and of the
unemployed, neighborhood assemblies, student unions and other initiatives, in total over
200 people, began a series of strike actions.--- From early on in the morning, round about
8 o'clock we began with strike picketing at bookstores and publishing houses to be found
at the juncture of Solonos and Ippokratous street (Hristakis, Tsigaridas, Sakoulas
publishers, Livanis, Pyrinos kosmos). At the same time leaflets where shared to
passersby's, whilst through our sound speaker system you could hear songs and strike
announcements. Following this, at about 11 am, we proceeded with a strike barrage of the
bookstore Politia. At the same time as this strike action took place, our strike gathering
began at the street corner of Solonos and Asklipiou street, where from 12 o'clock and
after began our strike march. The march moved through Solonos, Benaki and Stadiou. Our
main banner wrote "Down with labour conditions from the middle ages - organisation and
collective resistance from below in every workplace". The march arrived after awhile at
the ministry of labour. Our long standing request to meet with the leadership of the
ministry was not accepted.
Our next stop for our demonstration was outside the bookstore IANOS, where during the last
few weeks a struggle has taken place against the use of undignified scanners which have
been forced upon employees so as to increase competition for individual sales. Furthermore
we marched once again across Stadiou street with a banner which wrote "Class solidarity is
the weapon of the workers, victory to the struggle of the cleaners". We arrived at the
ministry of economics, at the point where the fighting cleaners are gathered. We did this
as a small gesture of support for their struggle and as an effort to join our struggles on
a cross industry basis. During our meeting we shouted together with cleaner's chants,
whilst through our loud speakers which exchanged fraternal salutes and spoke of the
content of our struggles. Also we offered some financial support to their struggle from
money that we had gathered during the duration of our mobilisation
Once more, a week before, during the process of preparing for our strike, we called a
meeting-discussion of unpaid employees from the book sector, during which information was
shared on what is going on in several workplaces and the moves made so far from our side.
Also we discussed in detail on how we will continue to fight unpaid work. We call on all
colleagues who suffer "unpaid employment" to come in contact with our union, so as to
fight together a common battle
The strike called on the 18th of June 2014 is about another battle which we fought with
dignity, with a preparation that took time, with efforts to connect the struggle with
other similar battles of resisting employees - unemployed and other sections of society,
with faith in the righteousness of our struggle, with conviction that with a unifying,
fierce, and persistent struggle organised by ourselves, we can win.
This strike was an important landmark in a permanent, multifaceted struggle across several
fronts, which obviously continues.
PS 1. We would like to keep in touch and learn your news.
PS 2. You may send messages of support for our union's struggle for workers rights and
decent pay at sylyp_vivliou@yahoo.gr
WORKERS UNION IN PUBLICATIONS, BOOKSTORES, PHOTO COPY CENTERS, STATIONERY OF ATTICA
(ATHENS - GREECE)
http://bookworker.wordpress.com/2014/06/18/%CE%B1%CE%BD%CF%84%CE%B1%CF%80%CF%8C%CE%BA%CF%81%CE%B9%CF%83%CE%B7-%CE%B1%CF%80%CF%8C-%CF%84%CE%B7%CE%BD-%CE%B1%CF%80%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%B3%CE%AF%CE%B1-%CF%84%CE%B7%CF%82-18%CE%B7%CF%82-%CE%B9%CE%BF%CF%8D/
Related Link: http://bookworker.wordpress.com
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