Newsroom
Workers at the Electricity Authority of Cyprus are currently on strike, with a two-hour work stoppage underway from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Friday.
As of 8:17 a.m., customer service centers and EAC offices across the island are closed after shutting their doors at 7:45 a.m. The action was called by four unions representing staff — EPOPAI, SIDIKEK, SEPAIK and SIVAIK — who say the country’s main power provider is being steadily weakened.
In a joint letter to management, the unions argue that recent developments are “short-circuiting” the EAC at a time when consumers are already feeling the strain of high electricity bills.
They point to what they describe as a worsening electricity shortage, continued price increases, and cases where rooftop solar systems have been disconnected. They also cite broader concerns, including water shortages, blaming what they call poor planning and a lack of long-term strategy by the state.
The unions also took aim at claims that the Telecommunications Authority could offer “cheap electricity,” saying such talk sidelines the EAC and adds to uncertainty in the energy sector.
According to the unions, the authority risks becoming a bystander while electricity costs climb and the threat of more serious power problems grows.
They also say a backlog of unresolved labor issues is affecting the smooth operation of the organization.
Union leaders insist the strike is about more than staff demands. They say they are defending the EAC itself, as well as the wider economy and consumers who rely on stable and affordable electricity.
Not all worker groups are on board. The Independent Union of Technical and Labor Personnel, ASTEPAEK, has publicly disagreed with the decision to strike.
The work stoppage is set to end at 10 a.m., when services are expected to resume.
