Unions step up strike action to all J&P sites

UNIONS representing workers on the Limassol flyovers yesterday extended their strike to all constructions by Joannou and Paraskevaides Ltd, affecting works in Nicosia and the rest of Limassol, while today they are expected to strike in Akrotiri too.

“The strike has been extended from Ayia Fyla and Yermasoyia to all of Paraskevaides’ worksites in Nicosia and Limassol, and on Wednesday the Akrotiri worksite will go on strike,” Yiannakis Ioannou, the general secretary of SEK’s Constructors’ Union, said yesterday.

Site workers are protesting over what they say is J&P’s violation of their collective agreement, as well as an increase in the employment of foreign workers for the construction of the Limassol flyovers – built to ease traffic congestion where the Limassol roundabouts used to be.

They are also up in arms over their employer’s failure to keep an eye over subcontractors, who have been called in to take part in the works.

”It is the employer’s obligation to control any possible subcontractors that he has the right to employ,” said Ioannou, adding: “it is the employer’s obligation to implement workers’ legislation, which isn’t the case today; there is a collective agreement.”

Also according to Ioannou, safety and hygiene levels at the sites are well below standard. “There are no toilets and there is nowhere for us to sit during our break and have lunch.”

But he pointed out: “This is not the reason for our strike. We are protesting against the non-implementation of the law and its regulations.”

Lefteris Stylianides, an official at the Communications Ministry’s Public Works Department, said the ministry was currently in the process of holding meetings with employers and unions, as well as the Labour Ministry, in order to come up with a solution to the problem.

The flyovers, constructions of which began three and half years ago, are scheduled to be completed by May 2008; it is unclear whether the current dispute might throw things off track.

J&P Ltd were yesterday unavailable for comment.

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