Disruption looms over Ayia Napa hotel redundancies

By Athena Karsera

A NEW strike threat loomed over the hotel industry yesterday with unions warning hoteliers of action if recent job losses in Ayia Napa were not reversed.

The warning came as ongoing strikes at two Larnaca hotels seemed set to escalate following union meetings.

Sek and Peo unions decided yesterday that 21 redundancies announced earlier this week at Ayia Napa’s Aeneas Hotel violated the Industrial Relations Code. They informed hoteliers’ association Pasyxe and the Labour Ministry that action would be taken if negotiations with management proved fruitless.

Sek hotel representative Nicos Epistethiou dismissed Aeneas management claims that the dismissals were necessary because of low reservations, noting that the hotel had advertised for 10 animators, “so they must have people to entertain”.

Epistethiou said the unions were also investigating reports that the hotel had applied to employ foreign students; “I don’t think that a hotel firing Cypriot workers because there is no work would want to employ foreign students or any other foreign workers,” he said.

Peo hotel representative Lefteris Georgiades noted that the problem at the Aeneas was distinct from the dispute with Lordos Holdings in Larnaca.

Management at the five-star Aeneas Hotel on Wednesday said the redundancies were necessary as reservations for the summer season were low.

But unions fear the move is part of a broader trend to replace permanent staff with temporary employees.

Meanwhile, the unions decided on new measures and strategies to drum up financial and moral support for the strikers at Lordos Holdings’ Golden Bay and Lordos Beach hotels in Larnaca, who are now well into their second month on strike.

They resolved that picketing outside the two hotels would continue, while demonstrations would also be held outside relevant Ministries.

Pickets at the Golden Bay and Lordos Beach hotels have been striking for the reinstatement of 73 colleagues dismissed when sections of the two hotels, and a third closed for the winter season, were turned over to outside contractors.

Management says the restructuring was essential to cut costs at the hotels and is adamant it will not discuss the redundancies.

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