The next steps in their campaign to reinstate the Automatic Price Indexation (ATA) will be decided on 1 September by Cyprus’ trade unions, according to PEO General Secretary Sotiroula Charalambous, who spoke to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA).
“We will carry out an assessment of the situation and determine our next steps,” said Ms Charalambous, adding that the decision made at the previous all-union meeting on 10 July — to proceed with strike measures — still stands.
At that meeting, thirteen trade union organisations confirmed their unanimous stance and their determination to fully restore ATA, based on the transitional agreements signed by all social partners.
In a joint statement, SEK, PEO, DEOK, PASYDY, POED, OELMEK, OLTEK, ESK, POASO, SAK, SAAAK, SYPYK and PASYKI stressed that attempts to undermine the philosophy of the institution — by linking ATA to unrelated elements — “are not accepted by the trade union movement”. They called on the government, even at this late stage and within the new timeline requested by the relevant minister, to fully restore ATA, while also ensuring that collective agreements and signed accords are implemented for all workers.
An all-union meeting scheduled for 24 July was postponed due to the wildfires in the Limassol mountains.
In remarks made to CNA on 31 July, SEK General Secretary Andreas Matsas said, “I believe the deadlock in the process has been confirmed. There are no convergences in principle, and on the philosophy of the issue, the positions are diametrically opposed. The stalemate has been confirmed through the positions presented by each side.”
According to Ms Charalambous, the all-union meeting has now been scheduled for 1 September at 3pm at the PEO headquarters.
Source: CNA
Feature photo source: gov.cy
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