Cyprus’s four major trade unions confirmed their planned Thursday strike after employers rejected government proposals for universal automatic cost-of-living adjustments during Monday meetings with the Labour Minister.
The unions – SEK, PEO, PASYDY and DEOK – issued a joint statement declaring employers had reaffirmed their position for changes to CoLA conditions that “essentially dismantle the institution.”
Employers categorically rejected discussions on universal CoLA coverage despite positive ministerial references to the concept, according to the union statement.
Employers refuse universal cost-of-living adjustment discussions
The trade organisations stated that Monday’s meeting with Labour and Social Insurance Minister Yiannis Panayiotou produced no positive developments differentiating from previous negative positions.
“Employers confirmed once again their fixed position for changes to the conditions for granting CoLA that essentially dismantle the institution,” the statement read. “Additionally, they emphasised they do not accept any regulation that differentiates the existing CoLA payment amount.”
The unions characterised employer responses as immediate and categorical rejection of universal CoLA proposals.
Four major unions call for mass participation in work stoppage
The organisations called for mass worker participation in Thursday’s strike mobilisations across public and private sectors, scheduled for 11 September 2025.
“All together in the struggle for CoLA FOR ALL, CoLA IN ITS PHILOSOPHY,” the statement concluded.
The strike proceeds despite Labour Minister Panayiotou’s Monday appeal for unions to cancel the three-hour work stoppage to continue dialogue.