Vocational Students:Elections in the Public Students’ Association of Attica (SYSDIEK) concluded with record turnout of 4.500

“We continue more numerous, stronger and more determined, for studies and work that meet our needs!” states the Election Committee in its announcement on this year’s elections of the Association of Students of Public Institutes of Vocational Training in Attica (SYSDIEK). More specifically, according to the Election Committee, the elections were completed on Friday 16 January, with a turnout that “set a historic record in the history of our Association, with 550 candidates and 4,504 votes!”.

“Now the students are speaking out!” the announcement stresses, noting that “this unprecedented mass participation is the students’ unequivocal response to the government’s policy of turning a blind eye to the enormous problems faced by students throughout Attica. The massive participation and recognition of our Association, and of the framework of struggle that we have created together, proves that our demands are realistic, fair and necessary — and shows that we will not back down from them!”.

We make it clear that determination and the will to fight back are growing in every classroom and workshop throughout Attica! With our Association even stronger, we are turning every school into a “hive” of struggle, continuing the fight against the policies of the current and previous governments, which constantly downgrade our studies, treat our rights as an “unnecessary cost” and us as cheap, flexible and expendable labour, being “trained” to serve the needs of the big employers and business groups.

We fight against their aspirations and their so-called “resilience”:

• for the establishment of permanent and stable payment for internships,
• so that we don’t have to pay a single euro out of our own pockets for consumables,
• for the improvement of laboratory equipment and infrastructure,
• for safe buildings with all necessary inspections and repairs,
• for a degree that is the only prerequisite for working in our field!

The government, the Ministries of Education, Labour and Health, and the Youth and Lifelong Learning Foundation would do well to listen very carefully to the voice and demands of the students!

Furthermore, the Election Committee announces that:

• The counting of votes has been completed, and the counting of the preference votes for each candidate will be completed shortly.
• The results for each Higher Vocational Training School will be announced (via the email addresses provided by the students of each school), so that the process of forming the three-member committees can begin.
• The formation of the 15-member Board of Directors will be completed by Saturday, 31 January.

Finally, it thanks the Athens Builders’ Union for its material support in the effort to conduct the elections.

• so that we don’t have to pay a single euro out of our own pockets for consumables,
• for the improvement of laboratory equipment and infrastructure,
• for safe buildings with all the necessary inspections and repairs,
• for a degree that is the only prerequisite for working in the field!

The government, the Ministries of Education, Labour and Health, and the Youth and Lifelong Learning Foundation would do well to listen very carefully to the voice and demands of students!

Furthermore, the Election Committee announces that:

• The counting of votes has been completed, and the counting of each candidate’s preference votes will be completed shortly.
• The results for each Higher Vocational Training School will be announced (via the email addresses provided by the students of each school), so that the process of forming the three-member committees can begin.
• The formation of the 15-member Board of Directors will be completed by Saturday, January 31.

Finally, it thanks the Athens Builders’ Union for its material support in the effort to conduct the elections.