Solidarity with the Greek fertilizer workers

Representatives of the Editorial Board of “Marxistiki Foni” met the workers of the fertilizer factory in Thessaloniki, who had once again come down to Athens (a 6-hour train journey), to protest in front of the Ministry of Labour against the closure of their factory. We publish the announcement of their union. We should all support their struggle!Say no to the closure of the fertilizers’ factory in Thessaloniki.

By the Union of the manual and white-collar workers of the Fertilizer Factory in Thessaloniki Province

On January 10, 2006 the closure of the fertilizer factory in Thessaloniki province by January 31 was announced. This would result in 650 workers becoming unemployed and also that a big unit of production would stop working in our county.

This decision of the shareholders (the banks “Emporiki”, Ethniki” and “Alpha”) serves only big economic interests and nothing more.

This will have a “domino effect” with catastrophic results for the economy of our province, as 2000 families (workers, suppliers, transporters, merchants) depend on this factory. Let’s all imagine how many millions of Euros in purchasing capacity will be lost in our city.

Since January 11 the factory has been occupied and we are struggling to keep the factory open as a viable unit of production and with prospects of development. We demand that the government intervene immediately to stop this injustice and this insane decision to close the Phosphorus Fertilizer Industry.

We ask you to support our struggle!

You can send solidarity messages to the union’s email address:

somateio_the@pfi.gr and sombflthe@yahoo.gr

You can also send protest messages to the website of the “Ministry of Labour”, by filling in the form at:

http://www.ypakp.gr/index.cfm?Level1=30&Level2=4&Level3=0&Level4=0&Level5=0&Level6=0

Please also send copies to foni1917@yahoo.gr