HUNDREDS of air passengers out of Paphos airport were affected yesterday when 12 flights were halted over a ground-handlers’ dispute that briefly spread to Larnaca airport but was called off before it could damage operations there.
The strike began in Paphos around noon when the two ground services’ companies made 33 employees redundant. The two companies only revoked the 33 redundancy letters after the strike had spread to Larnaca airport.
Ground staff at Paphos Airport held the unplanned strike in the morning – affecting 12 flights in total – while Larnaca workers had just followed suit in the early afternoon, when the decision to revoke was announced and operations went back to normal.
The management of the two companies had made the decision to let the 33 Paphos employees go after workers refused to accept a change in their employment terms.
All 33 had formerly been government employed when airport operations were privatised in 2006 but had stayed on under the new management.
They maintain they were promised they would keep the same employment terms they had before the takeover – meaning they would keep their status as government employees.
However, they were recently told if they didn’t agree to a change in their terms, they would either have to leave and be compensated, or be dispatched to other government services.
In a joint announcement yesterday, Swissport and LGS Handling said: “All parties decided to continue discussions with the aim of resolving the matter that concerns former government hourly-paid workers”.
They added: “Within these parameters, all measures taken by all sides have been cancelled.”
The Paphos workers’ impromptu strike affected 12 flights, seven departures and five arrivals mainly to and from London Gatwick, of which four were cancelled altogether. The airline companies made other arrangements for the remaining eight flights.
The workers warned then that if the letters were not withdrawn, they would step up their measures.
They did when colleagues at Larnaca airport also downed tools at 2.30pm. Speaking on behalf of unions, SEK, PEO and DEOK, Georgios Ioulianos said representatives of all three unions had gone to Larnaca airport and conferred with their members there who are also employed by Swissport and LGS.
“We told them about what happened in Paphos and the decision was to take dynamic measures in solidarity with their colleagues at Paphos airport,” said Ioulianos.
“[Airport operators] Hermes then asked for a one-hour extension, in order to give the discussion that had already started a chance and this extension was given with all good intentions,” Ioulianos explained.
However Swissport and LGS acted quickly some five minutes into the Larnaca strike. The two companies informed the unions that they had revoked the redundancy letters, and staff went back to work at both airports.
A statement from Hermes said operations were fully restored and the flight schedule had returned to normal.”
Hermes spokesman Adamos Aspris said the company was saddened by the whole affair. “Hermes Airports would like to express its sadness towards the travelling public for the difficulties and hassle the ground services’ employees at Paphos Airport caused with their unplanned strike,” said Aspris.
