Workers Revolutionary Party - GREEK STUDENTS MARCH AGAINST EDUCATION CUTS

The News Line: News Saturday, 4 December 2010 GREEK STUDENTS MARCH AGAINST EDUCATION CUTS

Students from Patras University at the Athens march last Thursday

Greek university students staged a militant march last Thursday in Athens against a government Bill that will impose huge spending cuts in education.

Over 4,000 students from the Athens, Patras and Volos universities marched to the Vouli (Greek parliament) where they were viciously attacked by the riot police with tear-gas and clubs.

Several students were treated in hospital and there were five arrests made by police.

Students then marched to the police HQs where they secured the release of those arrested.

Up to now some 30 university departments are under students’ occupation throughout Greece.

Students’ general assemblies are meeting next Tuesday to review the situation.

The students’ co-ordination committee, along with the secondary teachers’ union OLME, have called for a mass demonstration next Monday, the second anniversary of the killing, by police, of 15 year old school boy Alexis Grigoropoulos.

Bank and railway workers have called a 24-hour national strike for next Wednesday.

The government plans to privatise Greek Railways and cut rail and bank workers’ wages by at least 20 per cent.

Workers are also furious with the President of the GSEE (Greek TUC) who secretly met with the head of the Greek Businesses Association to discuss the implementation of so-called ‘business agreements’ to replace collective agreements and cuts in wages.

The GSEE have called a 24-hour general strike for 15 December.