Greek Communists denounce arrest of striking seafarers

Greek seafarers rally -- image via the KKE

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) is denouncing the arrest of nineteen striking seafarers on June 18. The striking workers serve on ships in the Adriatic Sea port of Patras. The seafarers were taken to the public prosecutor on charges of “obstructing transport”. They have been striking as they say their ships are understaffed creating dangerous working and operating conditions.

In a statement the KKE noted: “Once again, the New Democracy government, acting on behalf of shipowners, is responding to the just demands of seafarers—who are calling for safe manning on ships that meet real safety and protection needs—with repression, authoritarianism and the criminalization of the right to strike”.

Statements condemning this action and demanding the immediate release of the arrested seafarers were issued by seafarers’ unions and the Patras Labour Centre. The latter stated, among other things, that: “The arrests were made because the workers are demanding better working conditions and the abolition of anti-people laws enacted by all governments over time. This is precisely why the state apparatus is punishing them. They want to impose silence, so that the interests of the shipowners can be served unhindered. However, this silence will be broken by the power of solidarity and collective struggle”.

Nikos Karathanasopoulos, parliamentary representative and member of the Central Committee of the KKE, made a telephone call to the Minister of Shipping, Vasilis Kikilias, to demand the immediate release of all seafarers and the dropping of all charges against them.

The striking seafarers were released that same afternoon.