Nicosia, Cyprus. Trade unions at the Electricity Authority of Cyprus have suspended strikes planned for Thursday following a meeting at the presidential palace on Tuesday afternoon. The two sides agreed to meet again on July 22.
Meeting at the presidential palace
The meeting was attended by the leadership of the four Eac Unions — Epopai, Sidikek, Sepaik and Sybaik — as well as Energy Minister Michalis Damianos, Deputy Minister to the President Irene Piki and EAC chairman Giorgos Petrou.
Epopai chairman Kyriacos Tafounas told the Cyprus News Agency that the unions had raised the issues that concern them during the meeting.
“I want to believe they were fully understood,” he said.
Next steps
Tafounas said the two sides will meet again on July 22, giving the government time to hold contacts with other ministries involved.
He said the unions will decide on their next steps depending on what is discussed at the next meeting.
Operational arrangements and union concerns
Earlier on Tuesday, Tafounas had said essential safety personnel would be on duty at the authority’s power stations as part of the measures, ensuring electricity production remains stable throughout the industrial action.
He said that if electricity demand increased or other operational needs arose, responsibility for managing the system and any potential power cuts would rest with the Transmission System Operator.
Tafounas said the threatened action follows previous protest measures and is intended to highlight what unions describe as serious concerns over electricity supply adequacy and the high cost of electricity for consumers.
He said the EAC should be allowed to purchase cheaper electricity from private renewable energy producers, adding that this would help reduce costs.
