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Truckers at Limassol Port walked off the job Monday, launching an indefinite strike that could bring container traffic to a standstill.
The strike was called by the Pancyprian Transporters’ Union A, whose members say they’re fed up with the way the port’s management company, Eurogate Container Terminal Limassol, handles their concerns.
“We started this strike because our requests keep falling on deaf ears,” said Kyriakos Moustakas, Central Organizing Secretary of POVEK, which represents the truckers. “We asked for simple fixes that don’t even cost money but make our work easier. We got no response.”
Drivers are demanding changes to how the port counts the “ship day,” the day a vessel docks, as part of their four-day pickup window, arguing that most of that day is already lost before unloading even starts. They also complain of delays when collecting containers that are held up over unpaid charges they say have nothing to do with them.
Eurogate, however, says not all these issues are within its control. Company director Alexandros Dimitriadis called on truckers to lift the strike, warning that from Tuesday “no new containers will be accepted at the port.”
He noted that the company already gives carriers four days to move containers instead of the three required by state rules, but an extra day isn’t possible because of limited space. “Traffic has increased 40% in two years; another day would paralyze operations,” he said.
The Transport Ministry also weighed in, saying it’s already in talks with transporters on several issues and that public consultations are underway on new regulations.
For now, though, Limassol Port faces growing delays, and with the strike open-ended, there’s no telling when the trucks will start rolling again.
Limassol Port is Cyprus’ main commercial gateway, handling most of the island’s container imports and exports. Any extended shutdown could ripple through the supply chain, affecting everything from retail goods to construction materials.
