COMMUNICATIONS Minister Kikis Kazamias urged truckers yesterday to reconsider their island-wide indefinite strike, saying their actions would have a serious impact on the medical and farming sectors of the economy from tomorrow.
Around 4,500 lorry drivers have been on indefinite strike since Thursday in protest against European Union harmonisation laws passed by the Transport Department.
The truckers are furious with a decision to stop issuing commercial goods transport ‘A’ licences to trucks and instead issue the licences directly to transport companies.
Kazamias told a news conference yesterday he respected the truckers’ right to strike, but that the government was determined to fulfil its EU harmonisation obligations.
“We are determined to uphold the stature and validity of our state in our EU harmonisation obligations, especially a few months before the island’s accession next May 1,” he said.
“I am saddened by the truck drivers’ decision to on strike while I was abroad. I invited their unions to talk on October 14, they accepted, and a few hours later they decided to strike.”
Kazamias said the drivers’ loss of revenue between now and October 14 would be devastating to them and their families, and he urged them to reconsider their industrial action until the scheduled meeting.
“I appeal to the drivers to consider their own and their families’ interests, but also to reconsider in the interests of the economy,” he said.
“October 14 was not chosen randomly; I felt I would need two weeks to examine our options to regulate some of their problems, especially the acquisition of the ‘A’ licence.
“But they have to understand that their strike measures will be counterproductive both for their cause and for the economy, especially the medical and farming sectors, since containers of supplies are piling up at Limassol port.”
Kazamias said he would not accept ultimatums from the drivers, but on the other hand he would not set any terms before meeting them either.
“I will be in my office at 11am on October 14 to meet them and discuss their concerns,” he said.
Kazamias said the ‘A’ licensing issue was not a real problem since the truckers would be able to get their licences through formal procedures and that his Ministry and the Finance Ministry would take a decision to put the issue forward by October 14.
He said the government was not intimidated by the truckers’ threats to park their vehicles outside the Presidential Palace tomorrow unless their demands are met.
“That’s their decision and the relevant government authorities will deal with this threat if it is carried out.”
Nicosia lorry drivers yesterday continued their strike at the SOPAZ industrial area, and tempers flared when striking drivers tried to prevent other drivers from entering the area to load up with animal feed, and the police had to intervene to ease the tension.
In a statement yesterday, truckers’ union POVEK spokesman Kyriacos Moustakas said Kazamias had until tomorrow to respond positively to their demands, and warned that the unions will not back down.
