Workers and farmers struggle against their common enemy

On Friday 13 February, trade unions of Attica, mass organizations of the popular movement, and student associations welcomed to Athens toiling farmers and livestock breeders from across the country, who are fighting for their survival against government policy and the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

Feb 16, 2026

On Saturday 13 February, trade unions of Attica, mass organizations of the popular movement, and student associations welcomed to Athens toiling farmers and livestock breeders from across the country, who are fighting for their survival against government policy and the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

The mobilization was preceded by a mass workers’ rally outside the Greek parliament against the bill on collective labour agreements. Thousands of workers participated in the work stoppage called by the Athens and Piraeus Labour Centres and gathered in Syntagma Square, while inside Parliament the government was voting through a despicable law. The bill, agreed with the yellow trade union leaderships aligned with the bourgeois parties (New Democracy - PASOK - SYRIZA) as well as with industrialists, places further restrictions on the signing of collective labour agreements (CLAs) on the basis of the “resilience” of business competitiveness.

Addressing the rally, Yannis Tasioulas, president of the Federation of Builders of Greece, stressed that the bill on CLAs “constitutes an upgraded attempt by the government, big employers, and the majority of the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE), notorious for its past conduct, to strike a blow at the demands of workers”, and called for strengthening the struggle.

In a statement to the media, Dimitris Koutsoumbas, GS of the CC of the KKE, said: “The workers of our country have already decisively rejected the bill on Collective Labour Agreements."

Inside Parliament, KKE MPs, who voted against the bill, had earlier exposed its substance, warning that it entrenches anti-labour measures and reinforces the rationale of “social partnership”, that is, the subordination of workers to the needs of capitalist profitability. As they pointed out, under the provisions of the bill, “the right of workers to a better wage must be approved by company profit margins”.

At the same time, the new bill leaves the determination of the minimum wage in the hands of the government, while maintaining “ceilings” based on inflation and profitability criteria. In essence, workers are being told that they cannot demand anything that might affect capitalist profits. KKE MPs underlined that these measures are fully aligned with EU directives, including those concerning fast-track investments and restrictions on health and safety measures in the workplace.

They also denounced the dirty role of social democracy, particularly within the trade unions, for siding with the right-wing government. Finally, they stressed that the struggle must target the real enemy, which is none other than the system of exploitation and injustice itself, and called on workers and other popular strata to join forces with the KKE, strengthen the class struggle, reject illusions about “pro-people” management solutions, and fight for a society in which workers will be the true masters of the wealth they produce.

The “baton” of the rally passes to the farmers

In the afternoon, thousands of farmers from all over Greece, arriving with their tractors after more than 50 days at the roadblocks, joined the rally outside Parliament. The organized farmers’ movement demonstrates daily, in practice, its determination to confront the policy that sacrifices their livelihoods for the profits of the few. Farmers travelled long distances, from Evros to Crete, in order to take part in the mobilization.

Rizos Maroudas, member of the Nationwide Roadblocks Committee and President of the Federation of Farmers’ Associations of Larissa, addressed the rally, stating: “Today’s rally marks the beginning of a new phase in our struggle, the continuation of our mobilizations, as we promised when we withdrew from the roadblocks. Roadblocks are one form of struggle but not the only one. We make this promise to you: we will be here, together. We will strengthen our joint action and we will achieve results, because we are many and we are in the right. We will continue and we will win. Hold your heads high. Do not fear them. They should fear us —and they do fear us; they tremble before us”.

At the rally, the slogan “Workers and farmers —one voice, one fist” was brought to life, expressing their shared opposition to the policies that are destroying their lives.

In a statement to the media, Dimitris Koutsoumbas, the GS of the CC of the KKE, stressed: “The government must immediately stop deceiving farmers and livestock breeders. They need immediate relief measures. As of today, the government must take measures to reduce production costs so that our farmers and livestock breeders be given the necessary relief to survive. Vaccinations against sheep and goat pox must be carried out, and livestock losses must of course be fully replenished. We stand with Greek farmers and livestock breeders, as we always have, and we will continue the struggle.”