Standing alongside the hundreds of migrant farm workers in New Manolada, who on Tuesday, May 13, lost all their belongings in the devastating fire that broke out in their camp, are the Food and Beverage Workers’ Union of Western Achaia – Northern Ilia, the Workers’ Centers of Patras and Amaliada, the Municipal Authority of Patras, and other trade union bodies. Equally moving is the effort displayed by the local community, who daily arrive with clothes and food at the Workers’ Center of Patras, responding to its call for the collection of essential items.
From the first days, a large solidarity operation, rooted in humanity and practical support, has been set up in the square of New Manolada. The leadership of the newly established Union, along with dozens of unionists, without losing a moment, took initiatives and immediate measures to support the hundreds of migrant workers in dire conditions. The union promptly set up a gathering point in the square of New Manolada, where daily, members of the Union’s administration and other unionists meet with migrant workers, organizing solidarity and consistently providing all possible assistance to the local farm workers.
Simultaneously, at the initiative of the Union and in cooperation with the Municipality of Patras, hundreds of food portions are continuously arriving in the area. Additionally, volunteer doctors and nurses from Ilia and Achaia have set up their own “solidarity center” to provide medical examinations, advice, and monitoring to the migrant workers.
The farm workers recognize the selfless contribution of the Union, drawing strength from the fact that they have Greek workers, their “brothers,” by their side. Indicative of this is the fact that many participate in the action as soon as they finish work, distributing water and food to their colleagues alongside unionists. In a gesture of appreciation for the support towards the Union and other trade union bodies, they offered strawberries, which they produce with great effort.
We stand by these migrant workers who were forced to leave their homelands and only seek the right to life and work. They work from dawn to dusk to fill the pockets of the strawberry magnates, toiling in the strawberry fields of anger as if they were modern-day slaves. Against this brutal exploitation, our unparalleled weapon is solidarity—the unwavering struggle for life with rights and dignity against governments, employers, regional authorities, municipalities, and urban parties that crush the lives of the people and workers more and more each day. These are the same entities that, even now, in the face of such a great need and disaster, where hundreds of our fellow humans find themselves, offer mockery and indifference, claiming they are incompetent.
The only thing they are competent in, and they do it zealously, is making intergovernmental agreements for the unimpeded exploitation of migrant workers by big employers and organizing festivities for large landowners.
Only the struggle and the common fight of Greek and foreign workers bring results!
The migrant farm workers, however, with optimism and pride, will continue to fight for dignified living and working conditions, as well as for the resolution of their demands through the Food and Beverage Workers’ Union of Western Achaia – Northern Ilia, to which many workers have already become members!
The Workers’ Center of Patras, together with the Food and Beverage Workers’ Union of Western Achaia – Northern Ilia, demand that the Government, Regional Authorities, and municipalities provide substantial solutions in the near future and satisfy the workers’ demands, ensuring the immediate accommodation of hundreds of migrant workers in suitable shelters and buildings, including hotels, access to drinking water, food, and all necessary measures for complete health coverage and access to healthcare facilities. Additionally, to issue new residence documents and any other documents that were destroyed without delay.
Only through mass claims, pressure, and the common struggle of Greek and migrant workers can we achieve results. We call on our unions, workers, retirees, and youth to continue expressing solidarity and support.
Collection of Essential Items
The collection of essential items takes place on the 1st floor of the Workers’ Center of Patras from 08:00 to 15:00, including:
- Blankets, bedding, pillows, sleeping bags.
- Bottled water (priority), juices.
- Packaged ready-to-eat food (canned goods—no pork, compotes, etc.), rusks, biscuits, croissants, cereal bars, sesame bars, rice, pasta, legumes.
- Personal hygiene items.
- Over-the-counter medications.
Greeks and foreigners, united workers!
