1886 CHICAGO – 1936 THESSALONIKI – 1944 KAISARIANI

MAY DAY 2026
STRIKE RALLY IN PIRAEUS,
AT THE MUNICIPAL THEATER SQUARE AT 10:30 AM

140 years after the heroic May Day in Chicago, the struggle and the message remain the same today and are more relevant than ever; we continue the fight against the system of exploitation and war! We emerge stronger and more determined from the optimistic messages that emerged from the major Pan-Hellenic meeting of PAME, held on April 4 with the participation of 718 unions and over 2,000 union members.

Against the imperialists’ wars and genocides, we are fighting for what the 200 of Kaisariani fought and died for heroically—a world that meets our modern needs and harnesses technology for the benefit of society. Not to make our lives even more unbearable, to work under ever-increasing intensification, from dawn till dusk for crumbs that don’t even cover the basics.

We are fighting even harder so that the working class can breathe, so that we can step into the spotlight and confront the politics of profit that commits crimes every day in the workplace, slashes wages, labor and popular rights, and drags the people into the ruin of imperialist war.

Together—the EU, business groups, and the New Democracy government—they are attacking our rights, our working hours, teleworking, and intensifying labor, all while labeling their competitiveness and profitability as the “national interest.”

Eight hours of work, eight hours of free time, and eight hours of rest—they call this outdated, telling us to bow our heads and work 13 hours at one or more jobs and make new sacrifices.

At the same time, at Teleperformance, an attempt was made to push through amended contracts with salary reductions, announcing to colleagues who supported various languages that they would be signing contracts for English only. However, following the immediate intervention of the Union, the company committed to not proceeding with wage cuts or amended contracts.

There is no room for patience, at a time when exploitation is intensifying in the workplace and our income is being eroded by the high cost of living—in food, housing, energy, the daily cost of commuting to work, and so on.

We draw strength from our colleagues at the Port of Piraeus and the major international strike at 20 ports, including the Port of Piraeus, in which our Union also participated, the struggles waged by our colleagues at Intrakom, Vodafone, and Nokia, at the refineries, in the food industry, and elsewhere. But also from the conscripts, who are forming struggle committees in the barracks, demanding their rights!

We are intensifying the struggle for wage increases, for the signing of a collective bargaining agreement, with a 5-day, 7-hour, 35-hour workweek, the incorporation of bonuses into base pay, and full coverage of telework expenses.

No involvement in the war; bring back military missions from abroad; close U.S. and NATO bases now! Their “money trees” are blooming for the profit of the monopolies, and they have enough to send Patriots to Saudi Arabia for Aramco and frigates to the Red Sea.

We will not wait for our turn to come, nor will we become the oppressors of other peoples. Money for healthcare, education, and public transportation—for the needs of society as a whole—with free entertainment and sports for all.

No sacrifices for their profits and their war!
May Day shows the way!

Two worlds are constantly in conflict: that of our exploiters—a world of profits, competition, exploitation, and wars—and our own, that of all of us who produce wealth!

We are participating – together with the other unions – the strike rally in Piraeus, at Municipal Theater Square, at 10:30 a.m.

We are organising the 2026 May Day strike, planning our next steps and strengthening the struggle!

Join us at our Union’s General Assembly on Sunday 19 April at 17:00 at the Piraeus Labour Centre.

We are fighting for:
• Wage increases and the signing of collective bargaining agreements in every workplace, fixed hours, 7-hour workdays – 5-day workweek – 35-hour workweek

• Freeing the country from imperialist plans, the return of all Greek military forces stationed abroad, and the closure of foreign military bases in the country.

We are inspired by the struggles of our class; we will continue, and we will win!