Eurocypria pilots threaten strike action

EUROCYPRIA pilots set up a strike committee yesterday to prepare for possible industrial action if their Cyprus Airways (CY) counterparts are given their promotions.

Sources in the charter firm said yesterday that they had already prepared a letter to the Labour Minister calling for immediate mediation.

Last week, CY pilots union Pasipy agreed to over half a million pounds worth of concessions, including a lower entry wage for new pilots, in exchange for access to Eurocypria promotions.

But the Eurocypria pilots have a collective agreement with the company, which states that captain vacancies only go to co-pilots with three years experience within the charter firm.

Four have already been promoted from Eurocypria, but there are another five to six vacancies, which CY pilots union Pasipy is claiming for its members. Eurocypria says these were offered to Pasipy in exchange for the wages deal and industrial peace.

Eurocypria says another three of its pilots are fully eligible and have been to a selection committee, while four or five more have the minimum requirements. They say that if CY went ahead with promoting Pasipy pilots, the national carrier would be violating the collective agreement.

CY spokesman Tassos Angelis said yesterday: "I believe we can solve this within the company and achieve a consensus, which can only be done through discussion and negotiations."

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