No compromise as petrol strike goes ahead

By Aline Davidian

A NATIONWIDE petrol strike went ahead as planned yesterday and ended at six am this morning.

The protest was a warning strike by petrol station proprietors wanting an increase in their commission from petrol companies. The proprietors have threatened to strike indefinitely in future if their demands are not met.

The desired raise in commission is part of an agreement to adjust the commission every three years.

The president of the Pancyprian Association of Petrol Station Proprietors, Bambinos Charalambous, said yesterday an impasse had been reached despite the mediation of the Ministry of Commerce and Works, as the petrol companies were refusing to renew the agreement. He stated that the station proprietors did not want any special treatment, but merely the means to survive.

But administrative counsellor to the Petrolina-Lina company Ltd, Kikis Lefkaritis, said evidence of an increase in profits made by the station proprietors had been given to the Ministry of Commerce and Works for affirmation.

Lefkaritis stated that the matter was one for the Ministry to decide, since the latter received the monthly profit and expenditure profile of both the petrol stations and the companies.

He added, however, that an increase in the station owners’ commission would cost the Cypriot consumer £1.5 million.

The Ministry of Commerce and Works has vowed to put pressure on both parties to reach a compromise.

Pronounced a success by the Shopkeepers Union (Povek), the strike had little effect on the public, who had purchased petrol supplies for their cars in advance.

Six petrol stations belonging to the Petrolina-Lina company were still open for business yesterday.

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