By Athena Karsera
TALKS to end the Larnaca port dispute are “going well”, but strikers continued to block the harbour entrance yesterday, with negotiations at the Labour Ministry due to resume on Monday.
After a meeting with representatives from Sek Peo and Deok unions, Labour Minister Andreas Moushiouttas said negotiations were going well.
Moushiouttas told reporters that unions wanted alternative work for the surplus staff set to lose their jobs once the port is turned into a leisure harbour. He added that the unions had also demanded compensation for the staff, which they want outlined by April 15.
The main point of contention was finding ways to lower the harbour’s running costs.
Moushiouttas said he would be meeting with the Shipping Agency on Monday to discuss the issue, before meeting with the unions.
The unions said they were satisfied by the meeting, but that strike action would continue.
Larnaca harbour workers and stevedores have been striking in protest at the port’s uncertain future and at their lack of work.
Party representatives yesterday visited the port to address the 150 striking dockers and stevedores.
Diko’s acting-president, Nicos Cleanthous, Akel deputy Andreas Christou and Disy’s Stelios Yerasimou all expressed their support for the worker’s demands.
Speaking to workers at the harbour’s blocked entrance, Christou said: “There is no excuse for the government undervaluing Larnaca harbour. Our experience has shown that Cyprus needs two ports and for this reason the government has to decide what the future of Larnaca harbour will be and to insure the rights of the excess staff.”
Christou said those who would lose their jobs when the port becomes a leisure harbour “should not be victimised as a result of the authorities using the wrong policy in the country’s general harbour development and of employment conditions at the harbour.”
Strikers were further upset yesterday when they heard that cranes previously used to block the port entrance would be disassembled to be to be taken to Limassol harbour. To prevent this from happening, workers put containers around the crane bases.
