GREEK trade unionists in the port of Piraeus took a second day of strike action today after bosses called for them to be arrested if they took part in yesterday’s general strike.

The China Ocean Shipping Company (Cosco), which runs the busy seaport, issued a statement ahead of the national general strike warning workers that the union was an “organisation that promotes violence” and uses threats to pressure workers.

Bosses forced workers to stay in the workplace after their shift had ended and warned that it would call for the arrest and persecution of those who stopped the company from functioning during yesterday’s action.

However the Communist-affiliated All Workers Militant Front (PAME) said dockers at the port gave a “militant response” to Cosco bosses by holding their strike demonstration at the company gates.

They were joined by thousands of workers who expressed solidarity as bosses were forced to shut the entire port for the first time during strike action.

The union called a general assembly where its members unanimously agreed to continue the strike action for a second day, demanding the signing of a collective agreement and better wages and working conditions.

PAME warned that Cosco was using the Syriza-led government’s anti-union laws to attack workers organisations and block the union from fighting for better terms and conditions for its members.

The anti-strike laws were introduced as one of the conditions imposed by Greece’s troika of creditors — the EU, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund — in return for “bailout” loans.

However PAME said the strike showed that “class solidarity and militant action” can defeat the aggressive stance of bosses and the Greek government.

“We call all unions to express their class solidarity with the dockworkers in the Port of Piraeus and their strike,” PAME rallied.