Trade unions representing Larnaca bus workers have warned they will launch a 48-hour strike from Wednesday if the Labour Ministry’s ruling on a collective agreement breach is not addressed by Tuesday evening.
The unions SEGDAMELIN-PEO, OMEPEGE-SEK and DEE EMPORIKON DEOK announced the strike threat after the Labour Relations Department declared a flagrant breach of the collective agreement by LPT, the Larnaca bus company.
The negotiating committee gave a final deadline until Tuesday evening for restoration of the collective agreement following a lengthy meeting at the Labour Relations Department on Monday.
If the breach is not remedied, workers will proceed with a 48-hour strike from Wednesday 30 July.
According to the unions’ statement, the flagrant breach concerns working hours, which should be “38 hours weekly work and consequently 7 hours and 36 minutes daily work” under the collective agreement.
The unions emphasised that collective labour agreements and all arrangements between labour and employer sides must be observed and respected by employers.
They stressed they would defend collective labour agreements and arrangements achieved through free collective bargaining as described in the Industrial Relations Code.
“We apologise to the travelling public and society for any inconvenience they may suffer and call on them to support our struggle to defend our collective agreements and rights,” the statement added.
The unions called on Larnaca Public Transport Services and Operations Ltd to respect its signature and the collective agreement between them and implement what was agreed.