The labor movement made inroads in Cyprus yesterday (Sunday, December 1st), with the first conference of African workers on the island. For more than six hours the historic centre of Nicosia’s Old Town was “taken over” by migrant workers from Africa and Wobbly organisers, sharing stories, music and good food, in an event facilitated by the IWW-CyROC and co-organised with members of the African community.
During the Conference, members of the Cameroonian community shed light in the history and current situation in their home country, while members of CyROC drew the lines between Cyprus and Cameroon’s history with colonialism, and the common problems faced by workers in both countries and all over the world. The salient issue of asylum and residence status, and the extreme difficulty for obtaining it in Cyprus even after years of living and working here, was underlined, and solutions were proposed. What was especially highlighted was the need for all of us workers to join together in solidarity, and do whatever is in our power to support each other.
The Conference was concluded with the creation of group chat for African workers in Cyprus, to facilitate their communication, solidarity and mutual aid. The attendants vowed to make this event the first small step for something bigger, and meet again at a second conference as soon as possible.
