On 18 June 18, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) denounced the arrest of nineteen seafarers who were on strikeon ships in the Adriatic Sea in the port of Patras. The seafarers were taken to the public prosecutor on charges of “obstructing transport”.

As noted in the statement of the KKE: “Once again, the New Democracy government, acting on behalf of shipowners, is responding to the just demands of seafarers—who are calling for safe manning on ships that meet real safety and protection needs—with repression, authoritarianism and the criminalization of the right to strike”.

Statements condemning this action and demanding the immediate release of the arrested seafarers were issued by seafarers’ unions and the PatrasLabour Centre. The latter states, among other things, that: “The arrests were made because the workers are demanding better working conditions and the abolition of anti-people laws enacted by all governmentsover time. This is precisely why the state apparatus is punishing them. They want to impose silence, so that the interests of the shipowners can be served unhindered. However, this silence will be broken by the power of solidarity and collective struggle”.

Nikos Karathanasopoulos, parliamentary representative and member of the CC of the KKE, made a telephone call to the Minister of Shipping, Vasilis Kikilias, to demand the immediate release of all seafarers and the dropping of all charges them.

The striking seafarers were releasedthat sameafternoon.

19.06.2025