EXTENSIVE meetings between the Labour Ministry and two semi-government unions yesterday failed to strike agreement, with the two strongest unions, SEK and PEO, threatening to strike if new collective agreements were not agreed before January 10.
Labour Minister Christos Taliadoros met with the Permanent Secretary of the Cyprus Workers’ Confederation (SEK), Demetris Kittenis, and the Permanent Secretary of the Pancyprian Federation of Labour (PEO), Pambis Kyritsis, but the talks failed to break the deadlock, with Taliadoros telling reporters his ministry could not submit any further proposal at such short notice.
“The Ministry of Works does not have sufficient time to submit any kind of proposal. The differences between the ministry and the unions are such that we cannot intervene with a proposal in such short time. As things stand now, we have a deadlock in the dispute.”
Taliadoros said the main point of difference was over pay.
Union officials told reporters they were disappointed with the outcome of the meeting with the Permanent Secretary of SEK, Demetris Kittenis stating that last week’s agreement between the government and civil service union PASYDY had prompted the government to rethink its initial stance on semi-government organisations.
“After six months of meetings, negotiations and talks and after reaching an agreement of principal in December, everything has now been uprooted because the government has come back with the proposal they initially gave to us way back in August.
“I am sure you all know the reasons behind that move. The events from last week and the agreement between the government and PASYDY indicates there has been a reversal of opinion regarding the conditions for implementation and resolution of differences with the semi-government organisations.”
PEO chief Kyritsis said he had been stunned by the turnaround, warning PEO would be forced to strike if the matter was not resolved promptly.
“We are very disappointment with the Minister’s statement that the talks have reached a dead end. There is an obvious and clear backtrack on behalf of the government with the reintroduction of the proposal they gave us in August.
“I was shocked to observe, especially given the feeling that we were within touching distance of a just agreement, that in fact no progress has been made at all.
“If the matter is not resolved soon, we will have no option but to strike.”
