Hourly-paid government staff warn against any change to president meeting plans
Cyprus hourly-paid government workers say they will not accept any deviation from the agreed timetable for talks with President Nikos Christodoulides, warning strikes could resume.
Hourly-paid government staff have warned the government against changing its plans for their union representatives to meet President Nikos Christodoulides next week, as reported by Cyprus Mail. The unions say that if the agreed arrangements are altered, strike action could be back on the table.
The meeting was arranged last week, when a strike planned for Thursday over a proposed three-year pay freeze was called off after Christodoulides agreed to sit down with the unions on Monday. Trade union Pasykek-Peo has now said the suspension of strike measures "was not a blank cheque" and that it still wants intensive talks with Finance Minister Makis Keravnos in the coming days.
The union said any agreement should "pave the way for an immediate improvement in wages and starting salaries", and made clear it will not accept a breach of the president's timetable or any departure from what was agreed at the presidential palace. It added that it "will not take a single step back" from its demands.
The finance ministry has said the unions' demands could cost taxpayers €23 million a year, noting that the median salary for hourly staff is €2,113 per month, above the national median of €1,968. But Oekdy-Sek leader George Constantinou said hourly government workers' pay has risen by just 1.5 per cent since 2009, while Deok leader Andreas Antoniou said some staff earn as little as €867 per month.
What it means for residents
If talks break down and strikes go ahead, several public services could be disrupted, and the cost of any pay settlement will ultimately fall on taxpayers.
- Public services: A walkout by hourly-paid staff could slow down or suspend services residents rely on, from cleaning to support roles in government offices and schools.
- Public finances: Meeting the unions' demands would add an estimated €23 million a year to the state wage bill, money that would otherwise go to other budget priorities.
- Watch the dates: The Monday meeting between the unions and the president is the key moment. If the timetable slips, strike measures could return with little notice.
This text is written from the source article and is not a translation of it.
