Conditions at construction sites unsafe

The Construction Workers’ Union expresses its deep sorrow and its sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of the 53-year-old colleague, a machine operator, who lost his life in the fatal workplace accident that occurred in Kavalouri, North Corfu.

This new tragic incident is added to the long list of so-called workplace “accidents,” which in reality are crimes caused by the lack of substantial health and safety measures in workplaces. The intensification of work—something clearly demonstrated by the fact that it was a Sunday—working without the necessary protective equipment, insufficient inspections, and the cost–benefit logic that puts profits above human lives all lead with mathematical certainty to such tragedies.

We all know firsthand that until the start of the tourist season, which grows longer every year, every day’s wage in the construction sector is a coin toss—will I come back home or not?

As a union, on the occasion of this unjust loss of life, we want to highlight and denounce the tragic and dangerous conditions prevailing in workplaces. These conditions are the result of government policy, which—so as to meet the schedules of major contractors and large hotel owners—forces us to work 10 and even 13 hours a day, with safety measures virtually nonexistent and maintenance and safe-operation protocols for machinery and construction vehicles completely ignored.

On the one hand, this is done so that major employers can save money, and on the other because all governments to date have stripped inspection mechanisms bare. The more than 35 deaths in the sector this year confirm that every workplace is a ticking time bomb.

Enough is enough. We are not machines; we are not disposable. We are the ones who produce—these palaces that are built in record time are created by our hands!

We cannot accept that at a time when technology and science are making unprecedented leaps, we still do not know whether we will return to our families from a single day’s work.

We demand:

• The creation of a fully staffed health and safety prevention department of the Labour Inspectorate on the island. We do not want inspectors who arrive after deaths have occurred, but real prevention.

• The immediate and thorough investigation of the causes of the accident and the assignment of responsibility to all those accountable—however “immediate” that can be when, after communication between the union and the responsible inspection department, we were informed that due to understaffing the earliest a team can arrive from Ioannina is Thursday, 96 hours later!!

• A 7-hour workday, 5-day workweek, 35-hour week.

• Implementation of the sectoral collective labour agreement.

• Full and unconditional support for the family of our colleague.

Against the Middle Ages working conditions they seek to impose on us, against those who envision our youth as cannon fodder while providing billions for military equipment but not a single euro for safe and humane working conditions, we make organisation our strength. We are right, and we will enforce it through our struggle.

We are strengthening our unions—no one alone, no one unorganised!!