Cyprus-Forum.com

by **halil** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 9:15 pm

UNIONS WARN OF NATION-WIDE ACTIONS OF THERE IS NO DIALOGUE WITH THE GOVERNMENT

27 trade unions staged strikes today in protest of the government’s economic policies and the recent austerity measures it has taken.

The unions are calling for the withdrawal of a statutory decree cutting overtime payments.

The developments follow the government’s earlier announcement that it will not back down from its stance.

Representatives and members of the 27 unions staged a protest in front of the Prime Minister’s building in the morning.

Some placards opened at the event said ‘We don’t want loyalty, but the payoff to work’ and ‘Health and Democracy do not accept austerity’.

The main opposition Republican Turkish Party-United Forces expressed its support to the strikes.

The CTP called on the government to exercise common sense.
Speaking on behalf of the unions, TURK-SEN President Arslan Bicakli accused Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu of not standing behind his signature.

Bicakli noted that Mr Eroglu earlier put his signature under a statement which said the National Unity Party would reject a law which envisages change in the legitimate rights of public workers.

Also speaking, DEV-IS President Mehmet Seyis described recent governmental measures as part of an ‘imposed’ economic package.

Mr Seyis said the draft law on wages and other subsidies will downgrade the payments and collective work agreements while it will also prohibit public workers from asking for their seniority compensations and some other social rights.

As part of the strike actions, the Cyprus Turkish Public Employees Union KTAMS also staged a strike at Ercan Airport this morning.

All flights between 6am and 12midday were cancelled or delayed because of the strike action.

Other strikes took place at hospitals and several customs checkpoints.

Education sector trade unions within the 27 on the other hand said they were supporting the protest actions despite not going on strike due to the ongoing summer holiday at schools.

Meanwhile, an evaluation meeting was held by 27 unions at the KTAMS headquarters, right after the strikes.

KTAMS President Ahmet Kaptan said what unions have been asking for is peace at work and mutual dialogue with the government.

Criticizing the UBP government for rejecting the reconciler approach of unions, Kaptan called on the government to form the ground for a dialogue table.

He warned that today’s partial strikes will be followed by nation-wide strikes, otherwise.

KAMU-SEN President Mehmet Ozkardas for his part said that the way out of economic problems is not to downgrade the rights of workers.

“Chaos has no benefit to any one” Ozkardas said, and stressed the need for establishing dialogue.