The Pancyprian Federation of Labour (PEO) expresses its full solidarity with the firefighter unionists of the USB union in Italy, who are facing disciplinary prosecutions by the country’s Ministry of the Interior due to their participation in strike actions and other mobilizations against the ongoing massacre of the Palestinian people by the State of Israel.

The persecutions against unionists in Italy do not constitute an isolated phenomenon, but are part of a broader escalation of state repression at a European level. The sharpening of imperialist antagonisms and the dominance of the war economy, with enormous expenditures on armaments and military operations, are leading governments and institutions to intensify repressive measures against the trade union movement and popular mobilizations.

The attack against the USB firefighter unionists constitutes an attack against the entire organized labour movement. Its aim is the criminalization of trade union action and internationalist solidarity—rights that were won through long and hard struggles and will not be relinquished.

PEO demands the immediate termination of all disciplinary or other prosecutions against the firefighter unionists and reaffirms its position in defence of respect for trade union freedoms and rights.