PAPHOS Airport’s Cyprus Airways staff yesterday held a demonstration outside the House of Representatives as deputies inside began discussions on Eurocypria’s decision to offer its land services to a private company.
The management of state carrier Cyprus Airways and subsidiary airline Eurocypria were asked to submit the exact procedures followed in Eurocypria’s offer of check-in services to a private company instead of Cyprus Airways staff.
In a joint meeting between the House Finance and House Communications Committees, Cyprus Airways employees requested an independent investigation into the proceedings followed by the companies during the offer and the punishment of any discrepancies.
They also asked for the separation and restructuring of the two companies’ Boards in order to avoid further victimisation of the Cyprus Airways staff.
President of Cyprus Airways trade union SYNYKA, Andreas Pierides, told deputies that their demand was for Cyprus Airways staff at Paphos Airport to continue to be in charge of Eurocypria’s customer services, as 50 per cent of flights to and from the airport were made by Eurocypria.
Offering a run-down on developments so far, Pierides told deputies that since 2004, when Cyprus Airways’ restructuring began, the company’s employees have made serious sacrifices. Despite assurances by President Tassos Papadopoulos and the relevant ministries that Paphos Airport’s Customer Services Station would remain open for them, a private company had been chosen instead.
Following this development, Pierides said around 25 employees in Paphos were in danger of losing their jobs, as they couldn’t or didn’t wish to be transferred to Larnaca Airport.
He added that the employees were asking for a detailed investigation into the way the offers were made for the specific private company, while they have warned that if they don’t receive satisfactory answers, they would seriously consider taking strike measures.
The parliamentary meeting took place in the presence of Communications Minister Harris Thrassou, the Finance Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, the Managing Directors of Cyprus Airways and Eurocypria, and the workers’ unions.
Eurocypria general manager Georgos Souroullas said that the tender for offers took place last January and offers were taken from four companies.
The lowest offer was chosen, he said, adding that the company was requesting £65 per flight, while Cyprus Airways had asked for £220 per flight.
“The difference was massive, and that is why the private company was chosen, with a three-year contract,” Souroullas explained.
The general manager of Cyprus Airways, Christos Kyriacides, pointed out that if the state courier offer the same price as a private company, the company would be burdened with £100,000 each year.
Following the meeting, Minister Thrassou said that “the Cyprus government supports Cyprus Airways with all means possible and has guaranteed loans for Cyprus Airways surpassing 70 million euro, it has purchased Eurocypria for around £13 million and it is moving ahead with proceedings that will enforce the company with a further £17 million.”
He added, “We will continue this support, but at the same time we will not accept any loss-making departments, because this defeats the purpose, which is to put the company on a profit-making road.”
But he added that seeing that there were accusations that things were not done in a regular and legal way, “we have an obligation to investigate the matter and we will definitely request explanations from the two companies”.
