Unions set September 17 strike deadline over hourly paid government workers’ pay

Nicosia, Cyprus. Trade unions representing hourly paid government employees said on Wednesday they will hold a nationwide 24-hour strike on September 17 unless the government submits an improved pay proposal.

The unions rejected the state’s latest offer for a collective agreement covering 2025 to 2027, saying it provided no pay increases during the three-year period despite economic growth and rising living costs.

Union decision

The decision was taken at a joint meeting of the civil servants’ union branch Oekdy-Sek, the democratic labour federation Deok and the construction workers branch of Pasyek-Peo.

The organisations represent around 7,500 hourly paid government employees, about 1,700 workers employed by the state health services organisation Okypy and more than 3,000 school staff.

Call for revised proposal

Oekdy-Sek secretary general George Constantinou said workers had rejected the proposal submitted on July 21 and had given the government until September 17 to present an improved offer.

“It cannot be accepted by us or by the workers we represent that there is zero increase, at a time when the country’s economy is experiencing very good and positive growth rates,” he said.

Constantinou said the unions expected the committee to reconsider its proposal and submit a second offer that could lead to consensus.

Pay concerns

He said hourly paid workers had received a 1.5 per cent pay rise over the past 17 years and had also faced wage reductions during the financial crisis.

“If all economic data is taken into account, our demands are fully justified and will help the workers we represent to survive with dignity,” he said.

Constantinou said the unions were not seeking disruption but warned that essential public services would be affected if the strike proceeds. He said responsibility rested with the government to submit an acceptable proposal that improves wages.