Visit of the Dairy-Food-Beverage Federation to Nea Manolada – In Solidarity with Migrant Farm Workers
On Monday afternoon, the president of the Dairy, Food, and Beverage Workers’ Federation, Vasilis Stamoulis, visited Nea Manolada in Ilia. Together with Panagiotis Zafeiropoulos, president of the Union of Workers in Food and Beverage Production, Cultivation, Processing, and Packaging of Western Achaia – Andravida – Kyllini, as well as other unionists from the Patras Labor Center, they met and spoke with migrant farm workers. They conveyed the unions’ decision to continue organizing solidarity and struggle.
Once again, food, clothing, and drinking water were distributed from the union offices, helping to relieve those affected by the recent devastating fire. Meanwhile, new members continue to register with the union.
During discussions, the importance of strengthening the union was emphasized. The Federation reaffirmed its support for the union’s efforts and the struggles of all sector workers. Moreover, they discussed the union’s ongoing daily presence in the village and its efforts to help thousands of displaced workers regain their footing and fight for their rights. Migrant workers joined the delegation and shared the problems they face.
The unionists then toured a migrant worker camp in Lappa, Achaia. During a gathering held at the site, the president of the Federation spoke about its struggle, as well as that of the local sectoral union, calling on migrant workers to continue registering en masse.
“Exploitation doesn’t distinguish between nationalities. It is the same for all workers, Greeks and migrants—especially for those who are forced to leave their homelands to find work,” said Mr. Stamoulis.
He further stressed that solidarity from trade unions would continue, emphasizing that organizing the struggle is what brings real results. Workers described serious issues they face, including lack of documentation and delays in the renewal of residence and work permits, which create numerous difficulties. They also talked about the hardships they face in their home countries and in Greece—compounded by the exploitation in the strawberry fields by large agribusinesses involved in cultivation, processing, and trade.
“We are proud to be here today—Greek and migrant workers together—and we want you to pass this message on to your fellow workers and your home countries: There is nothing dividing us; our only opponents are the bosses,” Mr. Stamoulis stressed.
At the same time, the union emphasized that it would continue its efforts and struggles for all issues concerning workers—both in appeals to the Greek government and relevant authorities, as well as to the embassies of workers’ countries of origin.
Meanwhile, the large solidarity initiative for the migrant farm workers of Nea Manolada affected by the wildfire was supported by the Union of Hospital Doctors of Achaia, through financial assistance. A similar move was made by the Labor Center of Kefalonia – Ithaca, also contributing to the effort.
Sector Workers’ Meeting
Earlier in the day, the Federation and the Sectoral Union of Food and Beverage Workers of Achaia held a meeting with industry workers at the Patras Labor Center. In his address, the president of the Federation stressed the importance of the struggle for a sectoral collective labor agreement (CLA) that meets workers’ needs, highlighting the fundamental dilemma:
“Either their profits or our lives.”
He noted that in the face of employers’ intransigence, it is crucial to continue and organize the struggle—by forming new unions in the sector and continuing the important work of the local sectoral union in establishing workplace unions.
Lastly, the Administration of the Patras Labor Center and the Union of Workers in Food and Beverage Production, Cultivation, Processing, and Packaging of Western Achaia – Andravida – Kyllini publicly expressed their gratitude to the Greek Community of Stockholm for their financial support of the migrant farm workers of Nea Manolada. This support came as part of the union’s initiative, backed by the Patras Labor Center, workers’ unions, and other organizations.
