Newsroom
Employees at three Atlantica hotels in Limassol staged a surprise walkout Friday, accusing the company of ignoring their contracts and undermining their union rights.
Staff from Atlantica Miramare, Atlantica Oasis and Atlantica Bay say they were left with no choice after repeated talks with management went nowhere. Workers are demanding full respect for their collective agreement, the contract that sets out wages and working conditions across the hotel industry.
In their announcement, unions accused Atlantica of “systematic violations” of the agreement and claimed the company has even withheld subscription fees that workers pay to unions, effectively blocking union activity. They also allege strikers are being intimidated. Complaints have already been filed with the Labor Relations Department.
The dispute isn’t new. Back in December 2024, unions lodged a formal complaint against the Atlantica group over alleged breaches of the sector-wide agreement. But the Labor Ministry has yet to decide whether the case amounts to a clear violation or simply a disagreement over how the contract is interpreted.
For now, the ministry is still in mediation, hearing arguments from both sides. “If it’s an issue of interpretation, it goes to arbitration. If it’s a clear violation, we’ll step in with a proposal for a solution,” said Andis Apostolou, head of the Labor Relations Department. He stressed the ministry’s aim is to keep “labor peace” in the hotel industry.
Atlantica, meanwhile, is pushing back. Group Operations Manager Nikos Katsounotos called the accusations “unfounded and legally unsubstantiated,” saying they are being used “as a pretext to achieve other goals.” He insisted that any issues are limited to one hotel in Ayia Napa and that talks with labor officials have already begun.
Unions aren’t convinced. They say workers at Atlantica hotels are being denied promised pay raises and benefits, warning that unresolved disputes risk destabilizing an already fragile industry. On August 29, unions SEK and PEO threatened broader strike action unless the government intervenes swiftly. They also urged the ministry to crack down on what they describe as employers exploiting foreign workers’ permits to weaken unionized staff.
“With the European minimum wage directive on the horizon, it’s unthinkable that the state would allow employers to undermine collective agreements and union rights,” the unions said.
