May 1 celebrations in Eleftheria Square
TRADE union PEO yesterday identified breaches of collective agreement and violations of workers’ rights as their top grievances, warning the organisation would “react like an avalanche” if they were not dealt with.
The statement was made by PEO general secretary Pambis Kyritsis during Tuesday’s May Day celebrations in Nicosia.
Pointing out that discussions on legislative changes for workers rights’ had stalled, Kyritsis warned that time was running out.
He added that employers and their unions should realise attempts to deregulate working relations and undermine collective agreements in Cyprus would not be tolerated, as workers and trade unions have left-wing party AKEL – a powerful popular movement – to support them.
AKEL Permanent Secretary Demetris Christofias also sent out the message that workers would not accept any more violations of their rights.
Speaking after the celebration, Christofias said: “I am saluting the working class on behalf of AKEL and I want to send the message that as in the past and present, AKEL will continue future to lead the battle for organisation and first of all the battle for the reunification of the island and the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot people.”
Among PEO’s demands are the following:
l An increase of tax-free income
l A one-time payment to all pensioners and a 14th pension
l Maternity benefits for all pensioner mothers
l An increase in low pensions
l An increase in paid leave and maternity leave by at least two weeks
l Recognition of five-member families as multimember families
l Single-parent family benefits
l Effective implementation of workers’ laws
l Strict measures to combat profiteering
Kyritsis said that all workers – Greek and Turkish Cypriot – would continue in their quest for a reunified Cyprus, while he added that the working public had the power to have its rights and conquests respected.
The General Secretary of the Turkish Cypriot trade union DEV-IS, Ishmael Kosparis, said the island’s division, which was brought on by imperialists, continues and that a realistic solution to the Cyprus problem needed to be found.
He added that the most realistic solution would be the creation of a bicommunal and bizonal federation, which will be based on the UN’s Security Council’s resolutions and the Summit Treaties.
The convention was followed by the deposition of wreathes on the monuments of working class heroes and then a march towards Eleftheria Square, where a cultural programme ensued.
The meeting was also attended by a delegation of the Communist Party of China, which was in Cyprus on the invitation of the AKEL’s central committee, representatives of the Turkish Cypriot parties and trade unions DEV-IS, KTOS, BES, KTOEOS and KTAMS.
