Faculty and other staff at the Cyprus University of Technology (Tepak)’s Paphos campus are to strike on Thursday over unpaid travel expenses.

The workers said an agreement had been signed by the university’s administration, Education Minister Athena Michaelidou, and the presidential office, providing a framework to ensure that those who had seen their jobs moved from Limassol and Nicosia to Paphos would be reimbursed for their increased travel expenses.

However, they say that agreement has not been implemented, and that the university’s administrative and financial director Costas Hoppas is “refusing to respect” it.

They added that the workers have “shown restraint and respected the efforts made and avoided taking measures for two years”, but that now, Hoppas is “demonstrating inconsistency and ulterior motives”.

This, they said. Is “exposing the university’s council and creating huge problems for the campus’ operation”.

As such, they called for the issue to be immediately resolved, “so as to avoid adverse consequences for the students, who are our priority”.

They added that their priorities contrast with those of Hoppas, who, they say, “in a baffling manner is making conflicting decisions as he pleases and based on his own personal agenda”.

“In the event that the issue is not resolved, the only option will be to escalate the measures,” they added.

Tepak, which has its central campus located in Limassol, opened its Paphos campus in September 2024, with a total of 300 students enrolled in courses at the campus.