On 5 March, seafarers of all types of vessels went on a 24-hour strike following a decision by their unions. The central demand of the strike was that all necessary measures be taken immediately to ensure the safe repatriation of seafarers who are trapped in the war zone.
With anger boiling over, as hundreds of families anxiously await news of their loved ones who are caught up in the war, the strike marked an important moment in the struggle against the criminal policies of the government and shipowners. At present, there are 85 Greek seafarers and 325 ships in the northern Strait of Hormuz alone, while thousands more seafarers are outside the strait. At the same time, as bombs rain down on the region and supplies on the ships are running out, there is no information about what is happening, while the ministry has provided no data to enable communication.
In a statement, the GS of the CC of the KKE, Dimitris Koutsoumbas, emphasized: “We support the strike of the seafarers who, together with their unions, are fighting to protect human life against the profits of shipowners. Hundreds of their colleagues are trapped in the Persian Gulf due to the responsibility of the government and shipowners, while the only actions taken by the Ministry of Shipping are limited to recommendations that shipowners take measures to ensure the safety of seafarers’ lives. But the shipowners have nothing to lose. Their ships are insured, while the seafarers are risking their lives.
Once again, the selectivity of the bourgeois state is evident: it can immediately send frigates and aircraft to serve NATO’s needs, yet refuses to plan and organize the repatriation of seafarers. The government must immediately ensure the return of all seafarers who are caught in the flames of war!”.
