Hotel employees in strike action

EMPLOYEES at the Apollonia hotel in Limassol started pre-emptive strike action last night, with more developments from other hotel employees expected today. Eighty per cent of the Cyprus Hoteliers Association (PASIXE) yesterday voted in favour of a lockout, during an extraordinary general meeting to discuss whether or not to accept a Labour Ministry proposal aimed at ending the long-running dispute between hotel owners and staff.

Speaking after the four-hour meeting, PASIXE chairman Avgerinos Nikitas said the association had agreed to accept Labour Minister Makis Keravnos proposal for the renewal of collective agreements in the hotel industry, except for the point concerning hotel employees’ welfare fund.

He said that from July 1 the welfare fund would be deposited in each hotel and handled by the employees themselves. The decision was taken during a secret ballot, with a majority vote in favour, and the Minister was subsequently informed of the conclusion.

Nikitas added that it was the association’s right to come to this decision, just as it was the right of the employees’ unions to hold their positions.

Asked whether or not the hoteliers were prepared for the employees to take strike action, Nikitas said: “We will deal with it.”

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