ON THE eve of the Christmas spending spree, over 4,000 lorry drivers responsible for the transport of goods throughout the island went on “indefinite strike” yesterday, threatening to descend on the Presidential Palace unless their demands were met by tomorrow.
In response, Communications and Works Minister Haris Thrasou likened the drivers to a “cartel” abusing its dominant position, and sent out a warning that the government would remain indifferent if they continued their actions. Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides described the strike as “unjustified, illogical and predetermined,” adding, “the damage this will cause to all sectors of the economy is particularly significant”.
Having ignored the government’s call to delay the strike for 48 hours, drivers parked their heavy-duty vehicles outside usual working areas like the Limassol port and Vasiliko cement factory as well as the Presidential Palace yesterday, obstructing the delivery and transport of goods throughout the island. The drivers’ actions threaten to repeat the catastrophic events of last year when truck drivers brought the economy to a virtual standstill after a lengthy strike.
Two ships were stuck at Limassol port yesterday waiting to unload bricks and iron. Lack of space at the port made it hard to unload hundreds of containers as lorry drivers parked outside in a relatively peaceful protest. Shopkeepers awaiting merchandise ahead of the Christmas rush were left disappointed as queues grew at the port. The construction industry has been the hardest hit so far.
Around 40 to 50 lorries lined the road outside the Presidential Palace throughout the day, slowing down traffic.
The holders of ‘A’ category licences are demanding that the government pass into law all the legal amendments previously agreed with the Communications Ministry regarding EU harmonisation laws. The drivers argue that the government has ignored the agreement reached between the two sides two months ago and left the legislative amendments they sought to protect their profession after EU accession gather dust at the Legal Services.
POVEK union official, Kyriacos Moustakas said that the Association of Lorry Drivers had decided during a meeting yesterday to strike in full force outside the Presidential Palace tomorrow if their demands were not met. The strikers hope to get the drivers of fuel containers to join them in the strike today. Moustakas warned that if they didn’t, truckers would force them to stop work by blocking them, raising concern of a looming fuel crisis on the island.
Chairman of the Lorry Drivers Association, Loucas Demetriou, warned that drivers had no choice but to park their vehicles outside the Presidential Palace in Nicosia tomorrow, take out the keys and go home.
Thrasou’s response was blunt. He said the strike was “completely unjustified and illogical” since their demands have been met by the government.
“Certain of these people have left from the control of POVEK and are acting as a cartel, with a dominant position in the economy, and they are abusing this position. The relevant organs of the state must examine this possibility,” said the minister, who warned that other sections of society would react negatively to the truckers’ actions.
“We don’t want to worsen the situation. But if the strike continues indefinitely as has been declared, definitely, the state cannot remain indifferent,” added Thrasou.
Justice Minister Doros Theodorou said the truckers were too quick to react since most of their demands had been met and were in the process of being implemented by the government.
“If they are upset about the fact that it has taken a couple of months for the matter to be processed in the government then they are overreacting because these kind of notions always take time and cannot be rushed,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry warned that the strike would paralyse the economy and cost millions in damages. Consumer products and construction materials would be hardest hit, creating huge losses for businesses.
