Employees of the Paphos district government are to engage in a two-hour strike on March 13 to protest against the EOA’s apparent refusal to enter into a collective labour agreement.

Trade unions Sidikek-Peo and Oho-Sek said the district government’s refusal to sign such an agreement “affects employees’ rights in a way which also disrupts labour relations within the district government”.

They added that the district governments of Larnaca, Limassol and Nicosia have all already signed and implemented agreements, adding, “despite our continuous efforts, which have been ongoing for many months … we are seeing a negative attitude and approach on the part of the Paphos district government.

“This is the inhibiting factor which to this day has not allowed an agreement to be reached,” they said.

They went on to say that all other possibilities of resolving the dispute “have been exhausted”, and that as such, workers are “fully justified” in their intention to strike.

“Therefore, there is no other way left than to dynamically demand the conclusion of a collective labour agreement which will not put them in a less favourable position than the working conditions they had enjoyed before the local government was established, nor in a less favourable position compared to their colleagues in other local governments on the island,” they said.

They added that they expect the district government to “have second thoughts” on the matter, given that up until now, the district government has “seemed to essentially deny the philosophy of collective bargaining”.

“The preservation of peace is our goal, and this will primarily benefit the district’s residents,” they said.