CYPRIOTS could soon be forced into vegetarianism with workers at the island’s main abattoir in Kofinou one week into a strike and showing no signs of backing down.
According to disgruntled employees, the two main reasons for the strike are disagreement regarding sick leave, and the management’s “one-sided” decision to impose pay cuts for employees with unexcused absences from work
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The abattoir board of directors was yesterday locked in emergency meeting to assess the situation, with reports suggesting secret negotiations are taking place between the two sides in an effort to find a compromise solution.
Speaking to state radio yesterday, Kofinou abattoir director Stelios Georgiades said the management was merely implementing decisions already agreed with trade unions at the abattoir.
He added the strike would soon leave consumers “with no means of getting any meat, especially beef”.
“We will probably see a shortage of beef in the market because the Kofinou abattoir is the only slaughterhouse on the island that can process beef. We are not willing to go back on a Ministry decision already agreed by the union after six months of tiring discussions. We will be implementing what was agreed and what was signed.”
But the head of the SYDYKEK-PEO union, Antonis Neophytou, said workers faced tough conditions at the abattoir, pointing to the fact they were exposed to frequent hazards such as accidents, injuries and illnesses, such as the common bacterial infection staphylococcus aureus.
“The conditions are very difficult there and the workers are exposed to frequent accidents and illnesses. That is why the workers feel so strongly with regard to issues such as sick leave. It is a fact that the Ministry of Labour had submitted to us a proposal, which we, as the union, were going to review and decide upon.
“However, the management at the Kofinou abattoir, without so much as informing us but instead deciding by itself after reading the proposal, went ahead and docked some salaries because some people had exceeded their sick day limits. Who are they to decide what conditions these workers are in, without so much as even discussing with them what it’s like there?”
Asked by reporters what it would take for the workers to end their strike and meet with the management for a dialogue, Neophytou replied: “The money that was docked must first of all be returned to the workers in question and the management has to stop what they unilaterally implemented. Then we can discuss terms that we can all agree on.”
