COMMERCE Minister Antonis Michaelides yesterday blasted Electricity Authority (EAC) unions for their “illegal” strike action planned for today.
EAC staff will stop working between 8am and 11am today in protest at the government’s plans for an offshore unit to process liquid natural gas (LNG). They argue the technology is untested and the authorities should focus exclusively on their plans for an onshore terminal.
Addressing unions before the House Commerce Committee, which had summoned all parties to the dispute yesterday, the minister said the strike had no legal justification, as it was not based on working differences.
This, Michaelides said, was backed by the Attorney-general and the Labour Minister, and he warned EAC staff that their action could be declared illegal and they could face court action for the financial consequences that their strike might entail.
Firing on all cylinders during an ill-tempered meeting, the minister also lashed out at the EAC Board, saying it was in no position to oppose the government on questions of policy.
“The EAC is a semi-government organisation and is obliged to implement the government’s policy, otherwise, if their opinions differ, they should quit and go home,” said Michaelides.
Incensed, EAC Chairman Charilaos Stavrakis slammed his fist onto the table and shouted: “You are unacceptable Mr Minister!” before storming out of the meeting.
He later told reporters he had left the room in order to avoid further conflict and calm the spirits.
Earlier, deputies had called on Michaelides to offer a detailed explanation of the Cabinet’s recent decision to create a land-based LNG storage facility, while at the same time opening tenders for the construction of an offshore unit.
Committee members said they shared EAC workers’ concerns over the explanations offered by the government over the decision.
Though the offshore liquefaction unit was supposed to be built as a temporary solution while the land-based unit was being built, they feel the government has not specified for how long the offshore unit will operate, raising concerns it could be used as a more permanent solution.
The meeting had been called in an effort to narrow the differences between the parties. But instead of easing the situation, the angry three-hour exchange made things worse, with the unions adamant they would strike today, despite the massive demand on the power grid caused by the current heat wave.
AKEL deputy Stavros Evagorou expressed his disapproval of the minister’s behaviour, saying the insulting phrases he had used didn’t help the situation.
”My dear minister, we have 43 degrees out there and this situation is going to get out of control and burn us,” said Evagorou.
Committee Chairman Lefteris Christoforou of DISY also berated the government.
“The government’s obsession to take specific decisions regarding natural gas, in opposition to the pleas of the Commerce Committee and all political parties, in opposition to workers’ positions, the positions of the Board of Directors, the relevant studies, but also the government itself, which had first decided on the creation of a land based unit, has unfortunately led the situation to a dead end,” he said after the meeting.
“The Commerce Committee is making another plea towards the government to engage in a dialogue with the EAC board and workers, in order to reach a new decision,” Christoforou added.
But Minister Michaelides was adamant: “On June 6, 2007, the Cabinet made its final decisions after weighing all the facts that are related to the introduction of liquid natural gas to Cyprus, based on the best interests of the Cyprus economy, the consumers and the EAC.
“I feel positively certain that this decision, under the circumstances, is the most correct, as it guarantees the fastest possible arrival of natural gas.”
Michaelides said it was “unfortunate” that political parties, except DIKO, had made their opinions public without hearing the government’s position.
