Unions say ‘don’t touch CoLA’

TRADE unions said yesterday that they were not prepared to accept a reform of the Cost of Living Allowance (CoLA) or any measures which will negatively affect the standard of living of employees, and most especially those in the lowest wage bracket.

Representatives of the three major trade unions, PEO, SEK and DEOK, made the statement in response to the government’s proposed austerity measures.

Sotiris Fellas, the deputy general secretary of PEO, said the union was unwilling to discuss alterations to CoLA and expressed the certainty that the government would not present such a suggestion at the negotiating table.

He emphasised PEO’s support for measures to reduce tax evasion but said proposed austerity measures should be limited to those who have the most.

SEK deputy general secretary Petros Theophanous said the union has submitted proposals for the eradication of tax evasion, the collection of back taxes, the acceleration of town planning amnesties and the substantial reduction of interest rates on loans.

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