Pilots to sue those who cut their wages

CYPRUS Airways (CY) pilots yesterday said they would sue those who decided to cut their salaries without permission as they staged a strike which affected four flights.

The pilots’ union, PASYPI, held a four-hour strike to protest the management’s decision to continue cutting 9.0 per cent of their salaries in 2012, when they had only agreed to the measure for 2011.

The airline said the measure affects all employees.

Following a general assembly yesterday, the pilots said they would  file lawsuits “against the members of the CY administration who had decided or approved cutting our salaries.”

“The general assembly unanimously condemns this unacceptable tactic, which is not an isolated phenomenon but is a part of a series of violations of signed agreements,” a written statement from PASYPI said.

CY slammed the pilots’ actions, and stressed that conditions had worsened since the initial decision to cut salaries last year.

The assembly authorised the union’s board to continue, and escalate measures, without ruling out strikes if and when necessary.

But they assured travellers that no unilateral measures that would affect flights would be taken during Easter.

Yesterday’s work stoppage from 8.30 am until 12.30 pm affected four flights to and from London and Paris.

The pilots said accepting the unilateral reduction set a “very dangerous precedent” and wrecked the foundations of labour conventions.

Labour Minister Sotiroulla Charalambous said she had tabled a proposal on Tuesday, which responded to concerns raised by the pilots previously.

“Unfortunately, while all other unions and the company accepted this procedural proposal, the pilots’ side did not,” the minister said.

Pilots had said that they wanted to see a viable business plan and details regarding redundancies – not just a vague mention.

The figure floating around is 150 or thereabouts but there are no other details.

Pilots have also asked for offsetting measures, like company stock, in return for their concessions.

The minister’s proposal provided that by April 20, the two sides would have agreed on the redundancies while the company would provide a viable business plan.

Within this framework they would also discuss offsetting measures, the minister said.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.