Lorry drivers suspend strike threat

TRUCK drivers of category A and D licences have suspended plans for a 48-hour strike from Monday, after failing to agree on the final details of the measures they’d decided two weeks ago.

The decision was made at the end of a lengthy meeting that took place in Chirokitia on Wednesday night. Eleven 11 voted in favour of the national strike, 13 against and three abstained.

The president of the Pancyprian Business Association of A and D Licence Holders (PSEA), Loucas Demetriou, said yesterday: “we have commonly decided that the strike measures will be suspended and we will wait and see the responsibility shown by the Licensing Services and all the parties involved.”

“Truck drivers,” he continued, “have become a laughing stock. For three years now we have been discussing everything, while the Licensing Services inconsiderately have been issuing C Licences. For this reason, as we are responsible people, we gave them time, but there is no more time. This is the final warning.”

Finally, he warned those in authority to stand up to their responsibilities and resolve the problems, “so that we don’t paralyse the business entirely”.

On his part, the president of the POVEK truck drivers, Georgios Charalambous, said time had run out for the Licensing Services. “If it is proven, during the suspension we have given, that C Licences have been issued after February 14 that aren’t clear, then automatically the time credit will end and the 48-hour strike will go ahead.”

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