Leaders and representatives from the Greek Community and
some of the largest trade unions in Australia have sponsored a joint statement
in support of the rights of Greek workers and the Greek people more broadly and
have condemned the austerity measures that are being inflicted on the poor, the
elderly and the most vulnerable in the Greek community.
One of the organisers of the statement, Arthur Rorris,
Secretary of the South Coast Labour Council in NSW said, “As Greek Australians we have a special responsibility to
support and demonstrate our solidarity with the Greek people at a time when we
can see such a grave injustice being inflicted on the workers and in
particularly on those least able to defend themselves and their rights.”
“We have to expose the myth that the Greek financial crisis
was caused by the people of Greece living lives of luxury and extravagance when
we know the truth to be very different, when we know that those responsible are
not the ones who will carry the burden of austerity for decades to come.”
“It is an insult to a people who have borne the brunt of
war, occupation, famine and depression for the best part of the 20th
Century in Europe to be told that they have had it to easy.”
“We have to ask the question, How can those same workers who
bailed out the world's biggest banks and investment houses during the Global
Financial Crisis in 2008 now be asked to pay a second time – by those same
institutions?”“This, however, is not just a Greek tragedy. If the world's
biggest banks succeed in imposing these measures of austerity and misery on the
Greek people they will soon apply the same recipe to others such as Portugal,
Spain and Italy.”
“No country is safe from the greed and ruthlessness of the
big banks and international financial institutions.”
“That is why we have united to endorse this statement
and to ask you, the community to support
it as well.”
“At midday, Friday 23rd March a deputation presented this statement to Officials at the Greek Consulates in
Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide.”
Contact: Arthur
Rorris: Mobile: + 61 409 223 029 W: (612)
4229 2888
