Trade unions across Greece are intensifying preparations for a nationwide, nationwide general strike scheduled for 25 November, under the slogan “No sacrifices for their wars and profits.”
KKE and Trade Unions Intensify Preparations for Nationwide General Strike on 25 November
According to a report published by 902.gr, the mobilisation for 25 November is spreading to an increasing number of workplaces, with hundreds of unions, workers' federations and labour centres taking decisions to participate.
The campaign is being driven by demands for substantial wage increases, collective labour agreements guaranteeing workers' rights, a seven-hour working day, a five-day working week and a 35-hour working week. Trade unions are also demanding measures to protect workers' health and safety, defend household incomes against rising prices and energy poverty, and oppose policies that they argue prioritise the interests of large business groups.
The movement is also linking these economic demands to opposition to Greece's involvement in imperialist conflicts. Its central slogan, “No involvement in imperialist war – workers must not pay the price,” expresses the unions' opposition to the diversion of public resources towards military expenditure and the consequences of international conflicts for working people.
Growing participation by unions and labour centres
According to the figures reported by 902.gr, 23 labour centres and 11 national federations had already adopted decisions to participate in the strike, alongside hundreds of sectoral and workplace unions. The public-sector union confederation ADEDY had also called a strike covering public employees.
The labour centres that had declared participation included those of Athens, Piraeus, Patras, Thessaloniki's surrounding regions, Larissa, Trikala, Ioannina, Lamia, Corfu and several other cities. The participating federations represent workers in construction, private-sector services, food and beverages, printing, accounting, pharmaceuticals, textiles, mining and entertainment.
The unions are organising workplace visits, general assemblies and local coordination meetings to broaden participation. In Thiva, a meeting involving more than 20 workers', farmers' and pensioners' organisations decided to organise an intervention in supermarkets on 14 November over rising prices and to intensify preparations for the strike through workplace campaigning.
In Trikala, the local Labour Centre organised a meeting of trade unionists to coordinate the mobilisation. Participants discussed conditions in workplaces and the need to turn workers' concerns into collective action. The meeting also condemned the activities of fascist groups and announced local anti-fascist initiatives.
Mobilisation across the country
Strike rallies have been announced in Athens, Thessaloniki, Piraeus, Patras, Agrinio, Aigio, Argostoli, Zakynthos, Kavala, Corfu and Lefkada, among other locations.
In Athens, the demonstration is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. at the Propylaea; in Thessaloniki, at the Venizelos statue at the same time; and in Piraeus, at 10 a.m. at the Municipal Theatre Square.
Further meetings and general assemblies are planned in the coming days in Thessaloniki, Patras, Kalamata, Kefalonia, Larissa, Zakynthos and Ioannina. Sectoral unions are also organising regional meetings to coordinate their participation.
The report highlights the role of the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) and militant trade-union forces in building the mobilisation from the workplaces. It also criticises the leadership of the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE), accusing it of undermining efforts to organise the strike.
For KKE, the developing mobilisation represents an opportunity to unite workers around demands for better wages and working conditions while challenging the broader economic and political priorities of the government. The party's approach links the defence of workers' living standards with opposition to military involvement and the demand that the costs of economic and international crises should not be imposed on working people.
The 25 November strike is therefore being prepared not simply as a one-day protest, but as the culmination of a broader campaign of workplace organisation, union assemblies and popular mobilisation.