Around 70 workers from around the country defied the heavy rain and answered the call of the IWW-CyROC and other organisations for a revolutionary May 1st! The protest began with a pre-gathering at the historic Faneromenis square, and as soon as the weather permitted the march was on!
This year, however, the protest was more than a symbolic commemoration of the ongoing struggles of the working class. As is the duty of every demonstration in Cyprus these days, it was another declaration of the opposition against limiting the right to protest! Furthermore, on the way to the gathering place of the mainstream “leftist” trade union, lies Pieto cafe. Recently, a number of former workers (most of them refugees) have spoken out against the borderline criminal working conditions and the behaviour of the boss, Antonis Koupparis, a person known for his discriminatory opinions; even more recently, that same owner applauded the police raids against migrants in the area.
Well, the grassroots labour movement has little tolerance for such objectionable people. The march made a short stop outside the cafe, where the text with the testimonials against the company was read and distributed, amid deafening chants in support of migrant workers and jeers against shameful employers! Passersby declared loudly that they will not go to the cafe again, and patrons left, some without paying. Needless to say, the owner was nowhere to be found.
After around 15 minutes, the march set off again to reach the gathering of the Pancyprian Federation of Labour – surprising with its fervor and participation the cops, the media and the business trade unionists alike!
The head of the march was immediately surrounded by cops, terrified by the sudden appearance of such a large group of (mostly masked) dynamic workers. Unable to do something about it, the cops were forced to back down, begrudgingly recognising our right to protect ourselves from vindictive employers and state repression by covering our faces!
It was at that point (and nowhere near his cafe) that the owner of Pieto made his appearance. He had the audacity to physically and verbally attack some protesters without reason nor provocation – only the timely intervention of the cops and the fellow workers responsible for the protest saved him from facing consequences for his actions.
Surprisingly enough, the cops did not use this as an opportunity to repress our demonstration; unsurprisingly though, instead of arresting the boss for breaking the law in front of their eyes, they just verbally reprimanded this unhinged individual and escorted him back to his cafe.
Unfazed by the ridiculous attempt of the heinous boss to cause the repression of the demonstration, the fellow workers stood their ground, and began fraternising with the rank-and-file of the mainstream trade union. After enduring what seemed like an eternity of long speeches by professional officers reminiscing about the time when they were willing to actually fight for the working class, we took to the streets again, and reached the Ledra Palace crossing; there, at the old stadium of Cetinkaya, we joined the trade unions from the north, and distributed the last of our hundreds of flyers to their members!
Solidarity Forever! May Day Every Day!
