Greek women cleaners, a year of fighting for their rights

From daily News Line in Britain:

Friday, 19 September 2014

Greek cleaners celebrate a year of struggle

THE 595 women cleaners of the Greek Finance Ministry, sacked en masse on 17 September 2013 on the direct orders of the EC-IMF-ECB overlords, completed last Wednesday a year of relentless struggle on the streets to get their jobs back.

Since last May, they have set up camp outside a Finance Ministry building in central Athens and they have campaigned throughout the working class, in factories and offices, as well as in universities, for workers’ and youths’ support.

Last Wednesday, a group of women cleaners spoke to the News Line at their camp in Athens.

Maria said that ‘This is a strange period. We are confident that some victory will be achieved, because this fight was worth it; it was the most sacred thing we’ve done.’

She said all the women were proud of being a cleaner, keeping things clean and healthy.

Aleka said that ‘We ain’t retreating; we will now fight even more for justice.’

Maria intervened to say that ‘All women here are optimistic; we will organise ourselves even more dynamically. We will decide on targets, we have faith in our struggle.’

Over the last two days, a group of 20 women cleaners had travelled to the European Parliament in Strasbourg to speak at meetings organised by the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) Euro deputies.

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