Education support workers stage 24-hour strike over employment disputes

Nicosia, Cyprus. Employees throughout the education ministry’s support programmes, including educational and technical courses, are holding a 24-hour strike on Friday. They say the government has failed to honour its commitments or address outstanding employment problems.

Unions warn of further action

SEK and PEO issued a joint statement on Thursday calling for written answers and concrete measures. They warned that unmet demands could lead to a further strike, potentially without an end date, alongside a demonstration at the presidential palace on November 2.

According to the unions, action scheduled for October 5 was deferred by two weeks following a request from the education minister. They said the delay had produced no substantial progress.

Income and employment demands

The unions reported that hundreds of employees had received no income since May, while others had lost their jobs to permanent teachers taking on overtime work.

Their demands include a retrospective summer allowance covering June-August 2026 and the filling of fixed-term posts for the 2026-2027 school year. They also seek the removal of restrictions on additional employment, subject to compliance with the statutory 48-hour limit.

SEK and PEO said the government would bear responsibility for any escalation. They stressed that workers needed employment, fair earnings and respect for their rights.