The first Saturday of September is held the annual International Fair of Thessaloniki. For ordinary people in Greece this is not the occasion for a cocktail in the company of successful capitalists and corrupt officials, but the opposite - to protest and to draw public attention to social problems.
Thus, in Thessaloniki thousands demonstrate in "independent class" protest, to shame the party-controlled unions, and during that time in Athens riots broke new antipolitseyski.
During the first week of September, Greece see again bared teeth of class antagonism caused by increasing police brutality and irresponsibility.
On Saturday, September 5, took place the inauguration of the 74th international "Expo" in Thessaloniki - the traditional forum for praise and promises of government was faced with thousands of people out on the street in "independent class" protest - regardless of party controlled marches of PAME and tame unions GSEE. The demonstration was led by PEKOP, Athens Union of cleaners whose secretary - Bulgarian Kostadina Kuneva - was flooded with sulfuric acid last December by the goons of the company in which it operates. In its call to fight PEKOP said:
"In dark days, they prepare us, let's be ready, let's get organized, let's turn this immediate impact with a warm autumn and warm winter. I will not forget December! Not to forget the bullets that killed Alexis or acid burn K. Kuneva, the Secretary of PEKOP! Every day we experience the social war. Kostadina is the flag of our struggle!
I will not hang in the queue before the trade union bureaucrats who constantly teaming up with bosses and the state, allocated as "parties of power" privileges of class conciliation, have the effrontery to speak on our behalf, on behalf of the working class, stick a knife in the back of our struggles. Nothing is going to yield to those who are constantly trying to control us, to turn our struggles in newsletters, and when it's December, passing on the other side of the river. Employees must demonstrate and fight against the bosses without false mediators and well-wishers of this or that bureaucracy. The liberation of the working class is the work of the working class! "
In addition to independent PEKOP procession were more workers than water (day before the march of anarchists descended huge banner of the university against the privatization of water), communists powerless by the CEC and over 500 young anarchists, mainly from Thessaloniki Antiavtoritarno movement, and a group of anarchists from the Federation of Anarchists in Bulgaria, among whom were young and Bulgarian emigrants from Athens. There was a slight clash with cops when some comrades attacked a group of gendarmes with smoke bombs and bombs, prompting a counterattack from the official data numbering 2,500 heavily armed police with tear gas and a series of clashes in nearby streets. Motorized brigade of 50 officers used the occasion to arrest 15 members of Antiavtoritarno movement that bound the flags to their social center. Then the same group of motorized cops attacked another social center of AD with tear gas, where the team during this time of "Free Thought" took interview of mother Kostadina Kuneva - Elena Decheva you can read below. Until a serious confrontation with the police not reached.
Meanwhile in Athens free Exarchia neighborhood once again became a battleground when police tried to stop and hold two children painted graffiti. When people ran to help children, cops draw weapons - something unforgivable to residents free enclave. The reaction against police violence causes large police attack released Navarino Park, located just meters from where Alexandros Grigoropoulos was killed last December. Heavy battle broke out between anarchists and police forces. During the clashes five people were arrested, one of whom was seriously wounded and hospitalized. Police said there are three policemen and wounded two police cars were destroyed.
The next night gendarmes on guard near the park are released attacked with cocktails "Molotov." Soon the whole area is surrounded by flaming barricades to prevent motorized police to invade.
Mother Kostadina Kuneva to Ivo of Free Thinking
Shortly after the protest, just before police attack with tear gas, I could see a second time with mother Kuneva, Elena Decheva. Greeted me with hugs and happiness. Had come to protest in Thessaloniki, together with other members of PEKOP - union of janitors and nurse of Attica. Later we saw in the new social center movement Antiavtoritarno, Thessaloniki - "Mikropolis." I asked her to tell what happens to Kostadina Kuneva and its cause after our first meeting on 29 March this year.
Elena: Treatment of Kostadina goes well but will need more time to fully complete - probably at least one year are not yet begun to treat her eyes, not to mention that we have a problem with the esophagus. Plastic surgeons also have much work yet because so far are only rough operations. Sometime around December said they would do and plastic surgery of the nose (half is destroyed).
How to fix the money now? Are you getting more aid?
Very little remained benefits but there are still people who help. ISAP pay money for private staff (ISAP is metrokompaniyata in Athens - they pay some of the money for the hospital because Kuneva worked as a cleaner in the subway). They pay for the attendants, not treatment. The treatment in the hospital is covered by its insurance and is now free.
The support that people in Greece to express Kostadina, lately seemed calm down. Do you think it will be revived again?
I do not think it is abated, because now it was summer, most people were on leave and I think now after September everything will start again because many people come to me and care for her and will probably resume demonstrations.
From Bulgaria expect any assistance or just what it was before?
Honestly tell you from Bulgaria do not expect anything, because after the first money from unions and the Minister of Labour, no other money has brought, so do not expect anything. There were some groups of solidarity that brought, for example winds from FAB.
From the Bulgarian church in Greece brought very little money too, but all help. Bulgaria also made an Athens concert to raise funds for it, and from there came a little money. One writer who sells his books, and she brought me 35 euros, save as - so. You know, the Bulgarians abroad are poor, we can not save much money.
Kostadina you still interested in union activities, than what the union does it?
Yes, very interested and keep in touch with her colleagues. Whenever requested, call them and they come to visit and inform them what they always talk about union activities.
Then I met with Christina Papadopuli - one of the activists of PEKOP - and asked her what the activities of the union now, after the case Kuneva.
Christina: This union was created in 1999. The people who created it were of different political beliefs, and was composed of Greeks and immigrants together. The first union elections were in 2000. The first shall be composed of four immigrants and three Greeks. Our main goal then and now was to eradicate slave labor conditions in workplaces. In 2000 the situation was even more severe than it is now. The vast majority of people had no insurance, no work clothes to the cleaners, all had minimal rights and general operations was very strong. I myself worked five years as a cleaner of the bus company in Athens and this is one of the worst places such as working conditions you can imagine - especially bearing in mind the weather - terrible heat in summer and icy winter nights - I worked as a cleaner at night. For all this time getting the equivalent of 100 euros per month, for which Greece is a little scary. In winter the bus my legs from the knees down completely froze. The first trade union activities of cleaners throughout union history began with our union. In his first strike demanded work uniforms, shoes and wage increases and we get them. We did not receive as much money as demanded, but was still a victory. This strike was triggered by an incident - the bus broke conflagration and women who were at that time in the lunch break for a while to die.
This interview was interrupted by police with tear gas attack against the social center.
CM Team