Nicosia, Cyprus. Employees of the Electricity authority of Cyprus (EAC) announced a three-hour work stoppage on March 18, from 8am to 11am, citing unresolved “serious problems” in the energy sector and warning of further action.
Work stoppage and warning of escalation
In a statement on Friday, the employees’ trade unions said the stoppage was intended to protest issues they say remain unresolved while the state focuses on “imaginative and unfounded proposals.” They warned that if solutions were not found, they would escalate their measures.
Concerns over planning and impact on consumers
In a letter to the EAC board of directors, the unions said the situation in the energy sector was worsening due to the absence of strategic planning, adding that the repercussions were burdening consumers and the wider economy. They also cited delays and inaction as contributing factors to what they described as a “painful situation.”
The unions said they regretted that the problems remained unsolved and that they were seeing actions by the state that they said exacerbated the situation.
Criticism of state proposals and electricity costs
The trade unions said that, instead of addressing what they consider necessary steps to secure electricity adequacy, supply security, consumer support and photovoltaics “truly for everyone,” the state was spending time on “imaginative and unfounded proposals,” which they said were becoming a fiasco and increasing rather than decreasing the cost of electricity.
Previous stoppage and objections to government plans
On February 27, EAC workers staged a two-hour work stoppage to protest what they described as “erratic” government policies in the energy sector and plans to allow the Cyprus telecommunications athority (Cyta) to enter the energy market.
How do you think the planned work stoppage will affect electricity consumers and the wider economy?