Statement by UITBB on the Chios tragedy in Greece
On behalf of the Trades Unions International of Workers of the Building, Wood and Building Materials Industries (UITBB), we express our outrage by the February 3 tragedy off Chios, where at least 15 migrants – including women and children – died after their speedboat collided with a Greek coastguard vessel. Dozens more were injured, many seriously, including 11 children and a pregnant woman.
This is no isolated «accident» – it’s the deadly result of Fortress Europe’s militarised borders, aggressive chases, and the absence of safe asylum routes that force people into using unsafe methods to come to Europe. Migrants are fellow workers displaced by war, and poverty, caused by the capitalist drive for more profit and the exploitation of cheap labour.
The EU and Greek government must be held accountable. We demand:
- Independent investigation into the collision.
- Immediate end to dangerous pursuits and pushbacks that violate human rights.
- An end to criminalising solidarity and border violence.
Solidarity has no borders.
Enough is enough.
On behalf of the UITBB Secretariat