Paphos builders to strike next month

PAPHOS district builders yesterday announced a 24-hour warning strike for Tuesday, February 14, as a response to what they perceive to be “unjust treatment” by their employers over their collective agreements.

The announcement follows last Tuesday’s decision by the Nicosia district builders to also go on strike in early February.

Members of workers unions SEK and PEO convened yesterday to discuss the several issues that malign the construction industry, which include mass layoffs, the employment of non-unionised foreign workers and violation of collective agreements.

Similar meetings are expected to take place in other districts soon.

Contractors and concrete makers refuse to pay workers a cost of living allowance for 2012.

Strikes have also been arranged by port workers and soft-drink factory workers for early February, while the breakdown of negotiations between the employers association (OEV) and the unions at a national level is expected to lead to more strikes.

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