Greek trade union leaders have called a general strike today after armed riot police furiously attacked teachers union leaders on Monday with batons and tear gas gun sprays.
The attack came as they tried to enter the Ministry for Education building in central Athens during a 3,000-strong rally of nursery, primary and secondary school teachers, beginning the fourth week of their determined national strike for proper finances to education and better salaries.
Teachers kept on shouting and chanting slogans against ‘police and government terrorism’ and calling on the entire Greek working class to organise strike action against the right-wing government of Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis.
In response to the teachers’ demands, the GSEE (Greek TUC) called just a 3-hour stoppage for today, and that restricted to Athens and Salonica, when the teachers’ trade unions have organised a national rally.
The ADEDY (public sector workers federation) have called a 24-hour national strike as well as the university lecturers union.
Many teachers attended last Monday the funeral of Manolis Gourniezakis, the Greek post-office trade unionist who suffered a heart attack and died last Friday as a result of a vicious attack by right-wing thugs, members of DAKE, the government party’s trade union section.
The death of Gourniezakis has galvanised the determination of the striking teachers and their supporters. It is now estimated that over 200 schools around the country are under school students’ occupation.
University students are also expected to commence occupations next week.
