Nicosia, Cyprus. The Cyprus bus drivers’ union on Wednesday warned it may proceed with a work stoppage unless protective measures are implemented after a serious assault on a bus driver in Nicosia on Sunday.
Union warning and proposed measures
Ompege-Sek leader Charalambos Avgousti said action may not be immediate but could follow if the union is not heard. He said the union will formally request a meeting with all competent authorities and will convene members to determine next steps.
Avgousti said strike action may be taken unless immediate measures are implemented, including protective booths on buses, emergency alert buttons, and surveillance cameras across the entire fleet.
He said drivers were dissatisfied and that the union may initially take warning measures before deciding on further steps.
Investigation and condition of the driver
Avgousti said the suspect in Sunday’s attack was identified through bus surveillance footage but had not yet been arrested. He said an arrest would send an important message to the public.
He described the attack as serious, saying the driver suffered a bite wound to the head and a broken leg, but that his life was not in danger.
Bus stop locations and past incidents
Avgousti stressed the need to relocate old bus stops, saying drivers receive complaints when they do not stop at former stops and that this contributed to the circumstances around Sunday’s assault, though it began over a different matter. He said a lack of patience among some members of the public creates problems.
He said there have been around a dozen serious incidents across all provinces over the past two years, but companies still do not see the need to install protective booths.
What safety measures do you think should be prioritised to protect bus drivers?
