International Socialists

As this issue of Socialist Review went to print the media was full of images from Athens, a city alight. Prime Minister Lukas Papademos is forcing through savage ‘austerity’ measures at the orders of Europe’s ruling class, and ordinary Greeks are expected to pay for the bosses’ crisis. 15 000 public sector jobs are to go, the minimum wage is to be slashed, wages and pensions are to be cut. This is a picture of what the capitalist class globally have in mind for workers and the poor. And yet Greece also offers an inspiring picture of resistance. For some years now austerity plans have been met with mass protests, general strikes, and union action. On the night that the Greek parliament voted in the attacks needed to gain the EU’s ‘rescue’ package, the streets lit up with protests, riots, and revolt. Greek unions have been in almost constant revolt.

Download: Socialist Review Issue #37