Cyprus postpones strike by hourly paid public sector workers — Cyprus Mail
According to Cyprus Mail, union representatives representing hourly paid public sector workers in Cyprus postponed a planned 24-hour strike after meeting President Nikos Christodoulides at the presidential palace. The industrial action was suspended to give the parties time for dialogue and final decisions.
Next meeting on September 28
Government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said that union representatives are to meet with the president again on September 28. The topics of the talks will include improving pay for hourly paid staff.
Before the meeting at the presidential palace, the government was represented in the negotiations by Finance Minister Makis Keravnos. According to him, five official meetings and two sessions of the joint labour committee were held, but the parties failed to reach an agreement.
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Assessment of union demands
On the eve of the meeting, Keravnos estimated the cost of the unions' demands for 6,500 workers at €50 million over the three-year period under negotiation. He also said that an overall 8% pay increase for these workers, if extended to the entire public sector, would raise annual wage expenditure by €300 million. In the minister's assessment, the state cannot afford this.
A Cyprus Mail editorial notes that the median salary of hourly paid staff is €2,113, while the nationwide median salary is €1,968. The publication also criticises the president's involvement in resolving the dispute and believes that the finance minister should have continued the negotiations.
