Hourly-paid government workers will stage a 24-hour nationwide strike on 24 June 2026, trade unions announced, escalating their reaction to ongoing delays in collective agreement talks.
The dispute stems from a breakdown in starting substantive dialogue with the Ministry of Finance regarding the 2025–2027 collective agreement renewal.
Unions said they submitted their demands in April last year, but no meaningful negotiations have taken place since, causing widespread discontent among staff.
Workers argue that their pay remains extremely low, pointing out that many earn wages equivalent to the minimum wage in Cyprus, which they say is insufficient to cover basic living costs.
The industrial action affects approximately 7,500 employees across ministries and government departments, alongside roughly 1,700 workers at the State Health Services Organisation (SHSO).
Trade unions OEKDY SEK, PASEY PEO, and DEE KDOKO DEOK stated that the government has delayed the process without sufficient justification, blocking a new collective agreement.
The unions have called on the government to provide substantial pay rises for low-paid workers, warning that the unresolved dispute is worsening the workplace climate.