The Athens Labor Center (EKA) called unions and Athens employees, the unemployed, pensioners, and young people to the 24-hour general strike of the General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE) and the Center for Labor Day (May 1).

They also called on them to join the unions' rally at 11:00 am at Klafthmonos Square the same day.

"Labor Day is a day to commemorate the struggles of workers who lost their lives in the bloody riots in Chicago, as well as a wake-up call. We will win only when we fight in unity for social justice, human and labor rights. The rights and achievements of workers are not negotiable," EKA said. It underlined that this year's May Day marks yet another year in which working people in Greece face an unprecedented crisis in livelihoods. High prices, social poverty, the restriction of labor rights, uncertainty and insecurity at workplaces "are the dominant repercussions of implemented polices," it added.

EKA's demands, it said, included the abolition of all anti-worker regulations, wage increases through collective labor agreements, and free union activity without employers' interventions.

(File photo)