Cyprus hourly-paid state workers announce new strike, threaten 48-hour walkout

Local governmentstrikeTop Newsunions Cyprus hourly-paid state workers announce new strike, threaten 48-hour walkout Dimosio Lefta Relevant News Cyprus hourly-paid state workers announce new strike, threaten 48-hour walkout 15 September 2026 Things to do on Tuesday, September 15 15 September 2026 On this day: Johnny Ramone, lead guitarist of the Ramones, died in 2004 15 September 2026 Angelos Angelodimou 15 September 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber Cyprus’s hourly-paid government workers will strike for 24 hours on Thursday, 17 September, and have warned they will escalate to a 48-hour walkout if there is no positive movement on renewing their collective agreement. A protest rally is also planned outside the Presidential Palace at 10am the same day. The strike is expected to affect a large part of government departments and services, with around 11,000 workers taking part. According to a joint announcement by the unions the strike covers Hourly-Paid Government Personnel employed in ministries, government departments and services, school board staff, and hourly-paid staff at the State Health Services Organisation, which runs public hospitals. Workers staffing vital services are also expected to take part, including the Forestry Department, the Fire Service, lifeguards, the Road Transport Department, Civil Defence, Public Works and the Water Development Department. Pressure to stay away philenews has learned that senior managers in some government departments are pressuring workers not to join Thursday’s strike, according to reports reaching the unions. This is because the strike is expected to have a heavy impact on departments including special schools, hospital units and public works. Hourly-paid government staff last held a 24-hour strike at the end of June. Despite roughly three months passing since then, no agreement has been reached between the unions and the Finance Ministry on renewing the workers’ collective agreement. The joint union statement said the decision to take stronger action followed the government’s refusal to grant general wage increases for 2025-2027 during the collective agreement renewal, despite positive growth rates in the Cypriot economy and recorded fiscal surpluses. The demands The workers say their wages have remained stagnant or been cut for over a decade, and are seeking renewal of their collective agreement for 2025-2027, with wage increases of 2% for 2025, 3% for 2026 and 3% for 2027. OEKDY SEK Secretary-General Giorgos Constantinou said hourly-paid government workers are the lowest-paid state personnel: “Their salaries start from the minimum wage of €1,088, at a time when their role is of vital importance.” Beyond pay, the unions are also seeking restoration of initial recruitment points, which remain reduced by 10%, and a 0.5% improvement to the Provident Fund. They say that, beyond withholding pay increases, the government is abolishing or leaving unfilled vacant positions, leaving most departments and services unable to properly fulfil their mission. “Responsibility for whatever happens rests solely with the government, which we call on, even now, to recognise the need to improve this personnel’s wages and to recognise their significant contribution,” the unions said in their statement. After the workers’ last strike, Finance Minister Makis Keravnos said their demands exceed €50 million and cannot be met, adding that some of the demands were not fully justified. Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Things to do on Tuesday, September 15 On this day: Johnny Ramone, lead guitarist of the Ramones, died in 2004 Bird conservation group urges MPs to reject ELAM bid to curb anti-poaching cooperation Cyprus pushes for separate Guterres and Holguín meetings as Turkey shows little interest Cyprus’s 2027 budget forecasts surplus despite Ukraine and Middle East wars Cyprus closes ‘black van’ probe as questions over Angelidis persist Diego Armando Aparisio: Queer is what hasn’t arrived yet Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.