Massive and Militant May Day Strike Rallies Across Epirus, Corfu, and Lefkada
Ioannina, Greece – Thousands of workers, students, and various organizations converged across Epirus, Corfu, and Lefkada yesterday, May 1, 2026, for widespread May Day strike rallies. These demonstrations served as a powerful message against exploitation, ongoing conflicts, and the escalating cost of living, with participants demanding an end to policies that prioritize corporate profits over the needs of the people.
Ioannina: Thousands March, Remembering Workers’ Struggles
In Ioannina, thousands of people of all ages, including numerous public and private sector trade unions, mass organizations, and a strong presence of young people from Student Associations and EPAS students, participated in the strike rally. The day began with a strike picket outside the “SAZ” hotel, where the Ioannina Food and Tourism Workers’ Union, supported by dozens of members of the Labor Center’s unions, fought for the re-employment of dismissed workers, including the Union’s president and a member of the Ioannina Labor Center’s administration. With the slogan “Take back the dismissals,” workers and trade unionists sent a clear message that employer intimidation would not prevail.
The rally commenced with a brief historical tribute to the great May 1st strikes, from Chicago and Thessaloniki in May ’36, to the heroic sacrifice of the 200 communists in Kaisariani.
Among the speakers, Alexandra Draganoglou, President of the Medical Student Association, highlighted the obstacles students face in their studies and lives, the policies undermining public universities, and the connection between student and worker struggles. Vangelis Kotsis, President of the EPAS Students’ Association, addressed student problems and the climate of intimidation they face, alleging that trade unionists from the Labor Center were denied entry to inform students about May Day, under the pretext that students are minors. “We are minors to be informed, but adults enough to be thrown into the labor battlefield,” he stressed.
Euphrosyne Tsoka, a former self-employed individual, on behalf of the Popular Housing Committee, called for intensified efforts to protect primary residences and support the mobilization on May 22, at 9 a.m., at the Courthouse, to save the home of a cancer patient. Michalis Tzimas, on behalf of the Kalpaki Farmers’ Bloc, conveyed the militant greetings of the struggling farmers, emphasizing that the cooperation and solidarity forged in recent struggles with the working class and the Ioannina Labor Center “will not be broken.” He called for a massive presence on May 11, at the first farmers’ court in the prefecture.
A particularly emotional address was delivered by Anthi Lygda, President of the Food Workers’ Union and a member of the Ioannina Labor Center’s administration, following the strike picket at “SAZ.” She denounced retaliatory dismissals due to trade union activity before the May Day strike, two- and three-month hostage contracts, exhausting hours, and intensification behind the facade of the tourism industry. “But here there is a union, there is a living, militant, class-conscious Labor Center, and intimidation does not pass,” she noted.
The main speech was delivered by Thanasis Kontaxis, President of the Ioannina Labor Center. He stressed that May Day is not a museum remembrance or a harmless ceremony, but a day of strike, promise, and battle. He connected the red thread of struggles, from Chicago and May ’36 in Thessaloniki, to the 200 communists of Kaisariani and today’s struggles in workplaces.
He highlighted that what they present as “progress” are 10-, 12-, 13-hour days, split shifts, flexible contracts, and workers’ lives constantly available to the needs of employers. Against this barbarity, he emphasized that what is modern and necessary today is the 7-hour, 5-day, 35-hour workweek, stable employment with rights, Collective Agreements, wage increases, health and safety measures, free time, education, welfare, culture, and sports.
He also addressed the false dilemma between different managers of the same anti-popular policy, noting that the working class has nothing to expect from governmental changes and “saviors.” He called for a strong, massive, organized labor movement, rooted in workplaces, that will transform anger into organization and “enough is enough” into a decision for confrontation and overthrow.
A highlight of the rally was when thousands of demonstrators raised their fists and sang the “Internationale,” the anthem of the global working class. A rally through the city streets followed. At the historic Clock Tower, workers’ unions and organizations laid flowers and wreaths at the monument where on February 21, 1944, EPON members raised the Greek flag 20 meters from the German outpost. With the flags of Palestine and Cuba raised, they honored the thousands of dead of their class, especially the 200 executed communists of Kaisariani, including 10 from Epirus.
Arta: “Without you, no gear turns – Worker, you can do it without bosses”
In Arta, the Labor Center’s strike rally followed preparations by unions in large workplaces and an exhibition on May Day at the Labor Center. From early morning, workers of all ages, families with their children, farmers, students, and self-employed individuals gathered. A giant banner with the slogan “Without you, no gear turns – Worker, you can do it without bosses” stood out. Despite a power outage, without any warning, the rally began as scheduled.
In his main speech, Alexis Katsaros, President of the Labor Center, highlighted that workers have no common interests with those who profit from exploitation and war, and condemned the persecutions against farmers of the Arta Prefecture Farmers’ Unions Federation (OASNA). A special moment was the greeting of Vangelis Betsas, President of OASNA, who demanded the withdrawal of summonses for farmers to testify. A minute of silence was observed for the heroes of the working class and for colleagues who lost their lives at work.
A march through the city streets followed, culminating in a symbolic blockade of the ring road. The militant appointment was renewed for Sunday, May 3, at 10 a.m. at the gate of the “EPIRUS” factory and at 11 a.m. at the 3rd km of Arta – Filippiada, for the laying of wreaths for workers who lost their lives.
Militant Strike Mobilization in Preveza
In Preveza, the May Day strike rally of class-based public and private sector unions took place at the old KTEL. Chrysanthos Kyriazis, on behalf of the Peace Committee, spoke about the generalization of imperialist war and the country’s involvement, while the main speech was delivered by Petros Lelovitis, a member of the Executive Committee of the Preveza Regional Department of ADEDY, connecting the sacrifice of the 200 communists of Kaisariani with the timeless demands of the working class for an 8-hour workday, Collective Bargaining Agreements, and health and safety measures in workplaces.
Theodoros Venetikidis, President of the Preveza Primary Education Teachers’ Association, also delivered a greeting, conveying the problems faced by teachers due to the commercialization of education. A march through the city streets followed, and militant appointments were renewed for the public sector strike on May 13, the anti-imperialist rally at the Aktio NATO Base on May 16, at 6 p.m., and the solidarity mobilization for the dismissal of the President of the Preveza Delivery Workers’ Union from ACS, on May 19, at the Preveza Courthouses. After the mobilization, the unions laid wreaths at Agios Thomas, in memory of Stavros Kappas, one of the 200 communists of Kaisariani.
May Day Strike Message Sent from Igoumenitsa
In Igoumenitsa, May Day began at the port, where forces from the Thesprotia Labor Center (EKTH) and Seafarers’ Unions held a strike picket. PEMEN trade unionists, along with members of the EKTH Administration, visited the ships docked in the port, conveying the strike message to seafarers. At 9:30 a.m., a delegation of the Thesprotia KKE laid a wreath at the monument of the Souliotes.
The main rally took place in the Town Hall Square, with Theodoros Papagiannis, President of EKTH, as the speaker. Giannis Yfantis, a member of the PEMEN Board of Directors, and Vasiliki Katsiou from the Board of Directors of municipal workers, delivered greetings, while a greeting from the SEA of cooperating Pensioners’ Organizations of the prefecture, who participated with their own bloc, was read. In the area, there were boards dedicated to the 200 executed communists of Kaisariani, as well as a work of art created by Andreas Kostoulas, a municipal worker in Igoumenitsa. A march through the city streets followed, led by young people with picket signs, and a wreath-laying by Sotiris Gikas, a member of the EKTH Board of Directors.
Corfu: “We walk the path of overthrow against war and exploitation”
In Corfu, the strike rally marked the first day of the three-day celebration of the Corfu Labor Center, with the slogan “We walk the path of overthrow against war and exploitation.” It opened with a recitation of Kostas Varnalis’ poem “May Day 1944” by Tasos Papatsoris, while a large crowd also attended the exhibition on May Day at the Labor Center. The presence of childcare workers stood out, with the rally highlighting the issues of the sector, as well as the participation of youth, students, and university students.
Greetings were delivered by Popi Bogdou, a childcare worker, and Stamatis Korfiati, President of the Municipal Workers’ Union. Irini Aspioti, President of the Corfu Regional Department of ADEDY and Vice President of SEPE, delivered a speech, while the main speech was given by Giannis Lasthiotakis, Secretary of the Corfu Labor Center and a member of the Administration of the Builders’ Federation. A march through the city center followed.
The three-day celebration continues on Saturday, May 2, at 7 p.m., in Kouramades, with an event honoring Kostas Chytiris, a communist teacher from Kouramades, one of the 200 executed in Kaisariani, where wreaths will also be laid by unions and organizations. On Sunday, May 3, at 7:30 p.m., at the Labor Center, a concert will be held with the San Giacomo Municipal Choir.
Lefkada: Message of Escalation of Struggle from the Strike Mobilization
In Lefkada, a strike rally was held with greetings from representatives of unions and organizations, including the Lefkada Regional Department of ADEDY, the Hospital Workers’ Association, and the Builders’ Union. The main speech on behalf of the Labor Center was delivered by Alexandros Veroiotis, President of the Lefkada Labor Center.
A march through the central market of the city followed, and wreaths were laid in Marka Square by representatives of the unions. An exhibition of boards by the Labor Center dedicated to May Day was set up in the square, attracting the interest of the gathered participants. During the rally, a call was made to participate in the large anti-war, anti-imperialist mobilization of Peace Committees and workers’ unions, on May 16, at 6 p.m., at the Aktio military airport, and in the demonstration in Preveza, at 7 p.m.
Source: https://www.902.gr/eidisi/ergatiki-taxi/419690/ipeiros-kerkyra-leykada-mazikes-mahitikes-apergiakes-sygkentroseis-gia
