WITH the number of strike threats on the island escalating with the temperatures in recent weeks, it looks as though Tassos Papadopoulos’ government could be in for a long hot summer of discontent.
Whether it be on behalf of neglected nurses, underpaid bank workers, or Cyprus Airways pilots forced into early retirement, it appears that one or other of the island’s countless trade unions is always liable to call an emergency news conference at the drop of a hat to highlight their members’ anguish and suffering, threatening the government with industrial action if their demands aren’t met.
Just last month, hotel employees crossed swords with their employers, demanding the renewal of a collective agreement signed in 1998. The war between hoteliers and their staff appears never ending, with the industry strained further this year by the Iraq war, the SARS outbreak and the ever-present threat of terrorism. The Hoteliers’ Association (PASYXE) has been refusing to renew the agreement since January, despite mediation from this government and its predecessor, leaving hotel workers “with no alternative but to pursue strike measures”, pencilled in for June 24.
The workers’ cause was also taken up this week by the island’s nurses, who warned of industrial action if the government decided not follow up the commitment of its predecessors to establish a separate nursing services department. Like most potential pickets, the nurses have threatened the government with ‘strike action’ — that vague term, used so effortlessly by union leaders in their attempts to extract concessions – tomorrow if their demands go unfulfilled. What format this ‘action’ will take remains to be seen – it is likely that union leaders will want to test the waters first before putting their heads together to come up with tougher action.
The Secondary Teachers’ Union (OELMEK) has also made its voice heard in the last couple of weeks, even detailing what the union’s strike measures will be. OELMEK handed the Education Ministry an ultimatum on Friday 13, warning that members would abstain from correcting and supervising university entrance exams if the Ministry ignored their demands (which include the finalisation of a teaching assessment scheme, the timely staffing of schools and the immediate submission of transfer rules for teachers). Members are also expected to picket outside a meeting of European Education Ministers scheduled for June 27.
University of Cyprus administrative personnel also jumped on the bandwagon of discontent on Wednesday, proposing a two-hour stand off on July 1– with the threat of more strikes in September – unless Parliament approves a budget this summer allowing for promotions and an increase in positions for University administrative staff.
Cyprus Airways pilots should also be due for another bout of industrial action, after they called of the last threatened strike at the end of May, following the intervention of new Communications Minister Kikis Kazamias. Few would bother to bet against the resumption of strike action next month, however, after pilots agreed last week to give the company’s new Board of Directors until July 11 to meet their demands for a 10 per cent wage rise and extension of the retirement age…
But why is the strike phenomenon particularly prevalent this summer?
Former government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou believes the recent spate of strike threats is strongly linked to the election of a new government this year. As Papapetrou says, “the distinction between promoting demands at an industrial level and political blackmail are not very clear cut on this island.
“I think various classes were offered encouragement in the past, because the opposition thought they could corner the previous government and now they have to come up with what they were promising, (most of which) is unachievable. They were promised things, they were led to believe that they could achieve more and more and more, and now (the new government) cannot deliver.”
He added that strike action should be used “very carefully” by unions, “or else there could be a boomerang effect. The strike (should be) the ultimate measure to be adopted.”
The ease with which strike action is resorted to is condemned by Chairman of the Cyprus Employers’ and Industrialists’ Federation (OEV), Byron Kranidiotis.
Referring in particular to the threatened strikes by Cyprus Airways and the hotel employees, he said, “The threat of strikes in these sectors could not have come at a worse period.
“We hope these threats will not materialise and both sides involved manage to find mutually acceptable solutions to the outstanding problems.
“The Ministry of Labour should intervene and use its influence to avoid the strikes for the benefit of the Tourist Industry and the Cyprus economy as a whole,” he added.
Another source noted that the summer months often tended to breed strikes within the tourism industry: “The unions wait until more tourists come to Cyprus so the strike will have a ‘positive’ effect.”
So, as the island seethes with disgruntled nurses, pilots, hotel employees — to name but a few of the malcontents – my advice is simple: don’t get sick and don’t plan any holidays. Just stay at home this summer.
