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9 January, 2012
Thousands of trade unionists around the world are writing to Prime Minister Lucas Papademos of Greece, calling on the government to drop charges against a dozen members of the GENOP/DEI trade union of power workers, including union president Nikos Photopoulos. The group will make their first court appearance at 9am tomorrow, 10 January, charged with protesting against the harsh austerity measures imposed on the Greek people by the International Monetary Fund and European Union technocrats.
Nikos Photopoulos
During extremely difficult economic times in Greece, the austerity package sets out to once again make workers pay for a crisis they did not cause. The specific austerity measure that the GENOP/DEI activists are charged with protesting against is a new arbitrary property tax which is a flat rate for all, regardless of income or ability to pay. Those who refuse to pay or are unable to pay the regressive tax have their power supply to their homes cut off. For fighting for these families to remain connected to the power supply, and conducting a peaceful occupation of a government office, the trade unionists now face up to five years in prison.
Support the campaign for these charges to be dropped and send a message through LabourStart here.
The GSEE trade union confederation is leading the calls inside Greece for president Photopoulos and his comrades to be free from all charges.
View the message of thanks from GENOP President Nikos Photopoulos for all the international support on the UK TUC “Stronger Unions” website here.