Carpenters go on strike

OVER 300 workers in 13 carpentry workshops across the island downed their chisels and went on strike yesterday to demand increases in pay and benefits.

Further strikes in other carpentry workshops are threatened by unions following a deadlock in negotiations with bosses over renewal of collective agreements.

Sek union representative Andreas Clitou described the one-day strike as a “100 per cent success”.

“After today, the union councils will meet again to review the situation and decide on what further action will be taken where and when,” Clitou said.

Four workshops in Nicosia, five in Limassol and four in Paralimni remained idle thanks to yesterday’s action.

For the bosses’ side, Employers and Industrialist Federation Oev issued a statement slamming unions for adopting “blackmail” measures.

“Unions are showing complete indifference towards the desperate efforts of what is by general admission an ailing sector,” Oev stated.

“We warn unions that their actions will harm both the economy and workers themselves,” Oev concluded.

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