Union rejects strategic plan for Cyprus Airways

By Jean Christou

BRANCH representatives from Cyprus Airways’ largest union Cynika yesterday voted unanimously to oppose management’s strategic plan for the airline.

The plan was drawn up to put the ailing national carrier back on its feet. It has been approved by the airline’s board and has been presented to the unions.

But while pilots’ union Pasipy is willing to discuss the proposals contained in the plan, Cynika, which represents cabin and administrative staff, voted not to accept them “as put to us”, a union representative said yesterday.

The union is not rejecting the plan outright but before entering any discussion with management on the issues they want the government to become more involved in the airline’s problems.

The strategic plan, drawn up with the help of outside experts, provides for cuts in benefits up to 10 per cent and wage freezes for three years which would include the Cost of Living Allowance (CoLA) and annual increments.

Overtime would also be affected.

“A large amount of funds are being requested from staff which would essentially reduce our income levels to a very low rate in comparison to other sectors in the economy,” the Cynika representative said.

“This is unacceptable when the main shareholder (the government) is not asked to do its part.”

The representative said Cynika expects a revision of the strategic plan and more government participation.

“We are willing to proceed along these lines,” he added.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.