CyTA unions outline demands to finance minister

State telecoms (CyTA) unions on Saturday reiterated their demand for their pension rights to be secured through the legal framework governing the privatisation of the organisation.

The demand was made to Finance Minister Harris Georgiades who metthe unions as the government prepares the necessary legislation for the privatisation of CyTA.

Unions asked that the bill, before it is submitted to parliament for approval, should include provisions securing the workers pension and constitutional rights, mandating dialogue with them, and allowing parliament to check the privatisation programme at every stage.

“We demand that provisions securing these rights be included in the bill before it goes to parliament,” Andreas Onisiforou, said, speaking on behalf of all five CyTA unions.

The government approved the roadmap for the privatisation of state companies last December.

Privatisations are part of terms in the island’s bailout agreement. Cyprus must raise €1.4 billion through privatisations between 2016 and 2018.

The main companies are CyTA, the ports authority, and the electricity authority, EAC.

Based on the roadmap, the first organisation slated for privatisation is state telecommunications company CyTA.

The CyTA unions urged parliament to approve a voluntary redundancy scheme that will see some 600 staff go over three years and save around €250 million.

Unions said success of the scheme would also benefit the public as CyTA would be able to cut its prices by 25 per cent.

 

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