Labour Movement, the beginning of a new world

The labor movement. The begginning of a new world. The labor movement broke out in the 18th century during the Industrial Revolution. At first, it was a movement which shocked the European society and in the 19th century it affected the whole world. But what was in fact the labor movement? Labor movement was the organized strive of the working people, that aimed the improvement of the working and living conditions. Despite the fact that in the beginning it was restrained very much, meaning the working conditions, thereafter.. it evolved into humanistic movement which configured ideologies and confronted with interests. In general, it offered in a unique way as it opened the way for affluence and welfare. Let’s inspect the evolution of the labor movement in Greece. Greece showed the first signs of this movement, affected by French political refugees, who were Saint Simon’s followers. He thought that the developing industrialization would solve all of the society matters. In Greece, an organized and socialist labor movement, was presented in Volos in 1905 for the first time, and then in Larisa in 1910. The background of both of them was exactly the labor riot, which preceded in Lavrio’s metal workplaces in 1896. Since then and after, the radical ideas developed in many fields, and so the labor movement started spreading all over the country... making its presence more severe. The new Greek provinces which were annexed in the country, and mainly Thessaloniki, boosted the movement’s development. In the Turkish occupied Thessaloniki in 1908, Federacion is founded and started developing, which was a labour organization. Federacion was responsible for the development of the radical ideas in Thessaloniki and thereafter in the rest country. Federacion was organized by the members of the Jewish union and by Avraam Benaroya, who were Jewish ... and was affected by the Bulgarian socialist movement. It was a liberal movement which acted until 1918. After 10 years of its action, it managed to coil both male and female workers who had different origins ... and directed them to fight for their working rights. In 1875, with Panagiotis Pana’s initiative, at first in Kefallinia and then in Athens, circulated the newspaper ‘Worker’. A year after in Patra, was founded a democratic club and in 1878 it released the newspaper ‘Greek democracy’. During the 1880’s, the radical democrat Rokkos Choidas and socialists Platon Drakoulis and Stavros Kallergis appeared ... and were responsible for the development of the New ideas. In 1890, Stavros Kallergis founded the central socialist club and after 5 years Kallergis ... and his organization, moved steadily towards Left Parties. In 1891 in spring were noted the first labor strikes because of the unfavorable working conditions. Under this situation in 1893 in May it is celebrated for the first time the Labor May Day. This celebration was achieved by the initiative of Stavros Kallergis central socialist club and achieved to gather up to 2.000 workers. That day the workers took these decisions: a) On Sundays the shops have to be closed all day along, and the citizens should relax b) Workers have to work 8 hours a day c) The workers who cannot work because of a disability or an illness, have to be given retirement in order to maintain themselves and their families d) The council of the central socialist club has to issue the resolution to the government Finally, the resolution was given to the government’s president who answered that : ‘He was busy with the readout of other references which were coming from different people and dealing with many different issues’ Kallergis protested loudly and so he was adjudicated and sentenced to 10 days’ imprisonment. A great role in labor movements procession had the General Confederation of Greek Workers which was found in 1918 at the first Panhellenic labour conference After a year it was incorporated in the international union confederation With its foundation the labor movement obtains a specific form. The General Confederation of Greek Workers undertook the protection of the workers’ interests It is cooperated with many different organizations in Greece and abroad. With its bodies, it presents the working place matters in Greece and suggests some solutions. In the same year, the Socialist Labor Party of Greece is found by socialists. It’s worth mentioning that it joined up in the Third Communist International and renamed in Communist Party of Greece. Through its program, the Socialist Labor of Greece supported democracy, the providing of the election right to women, the analogue election system and the nationalization of the biggest wealth productive sources. From the first years of the presence of the labor movement in Greece, the role that Thessaloniki played for its spread was really important. After many years, the participation of Thessaloniki’s workers in the riots and in the protests was becoming more and more severe. Some of the most important facts were presented in May in 1936. Let’s see what really happened there. The winter in 1936 was one of the most miserable for the last years. It lead the workers to poverty, hunger and squalor. The mobilizations are starting in February in all over the Greece. On 4th April in Thessaloniki, the first Smoke conference is taking part. On 29th April on Wednesday, a sign is given to start the strike in Thessaloniki and workers submit their requests After a day, the strike spreads to the rest of the country. With the excuse of the celebration of the Labor May Day, the tension of the riots increases, and Thessaloniki’s workers fight for their rights. On Saturday on 9th May, Thessaloniki reminds of sieged city. The savage policemen’ attacks against workers resulted in death of many workers. On Sunday on 10th May 150.000 people were gathered in the burial of the dead demonstrators. After the burial, people poured out in the city. After murders, injuries and arrests, the strike ends on 14th May, with the promise that the arrested demonstrators will get free.... that retirements will be given to the families which had a dead relative and the realization of the workers’ requests. These facts inspired the poet Giannis Ritsos to write the ‘Epitafios’. Let’s complete this flashback to the past and history of our country with the lyrics of this poem