EAC technical staff postpone strike measures

SEP-AHK, one of the Electricity Authority of Cyprus’ (EAC) trade unions, announced yesterday that they would postpone work-to-rule measures started last Thursday over a disagreement with the Authority.

The measures included not carrying out any repairs on the grid outside of working hours.

The decision was made following a low-profile meeting held on Friday between the union and the board’s chairman and vice-chairman, said SEP-AHK head Sotos Savva.

SEP-AHK union members, that represent 85 per cent of the EAC’s technical staff have agreed to enter into negotiations with the Authority to prepare a programme for rational restructuring of the whole organisation.

Savva said last week, that the EAC went ahead and signed an agreement with the company’s remaining three unions to start restructuring the company, targeting only technical staff.

He clarified that the deadline for negotiations would be the end of February and if an agreement is not reached then they would give warning before implementing strike measures. However, he said that he felt optimistic that discussions would go well.

The Labour Ministry’s code for labour relations for essential services says (including ensuring a constant electricity supply) SEP-AHK should have tried to engage the EAC in dialogue, asked for mediation if necessary, and then if no agreement was reached, give at least 25 days’ notice of planned strike measures.

Savva said that they were not signatories to the code.

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