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Police officers took their fight from the streets to Parliament on Wednesday, protesting what they call a unilateral and deeply unfair decision by the Chief of Police to change their working hours without consultation.
Around 100 members of the Police Force Branch of the Equality Union gathered outside the House of Representatives as the Parliamentary Legal Affairs Committee was debating the issue. Holding banners reading “Respect those who protect you,” “No to reducing rest days,” and “We are not numbers,” officers chanted for dignity, dialogue and respect for their rights.
At the heart of the dispute is a recent decision by the Chief of Police to overhaul work schedules, a move union representatives say was made overnight, without discussion, and with serious consequences for officers’ pay, rest days and family life.
“This wasn’t a small adjustment. It was a cut straight into our lives,” said Nikos Loizides, president of the Police Branch of the Equality Union, addressing protesters. “They tore up our schedules in one day, without asking anyone. He walked into our house, reached into our pocket, and took our money without permission.”
Loizides stressed that behind every uniform is a family and warned that the issue would not end here. He said the union has already taken legal action, citing Article 19 of the Police Law, which governs labor relations within the force.
Union leaders argue that police officers have already paid a heavy price over the past decade. “Since 2013, you accepted cuts to salaries and benefits to help the state get back on its feet,” Loizides said. “Now they’re coming back to take your sweat all over again.”
During the protest, Loizides handed House Speaker Annita Demetriou what he called an “unusual memorandum”, not a list of demands, but the Police Law itself. “Others give you memoranda. We give you the law that’s been violated,” he said, urging Parliament to examine whether the Chief’s decision is legal.
Demetriou, receiving the document, voiced clear support for the officers. “Even if decisions are taken with good intentions, they cannot be made without consultation. That is simply not acceptable,” she said, adding that police officers’ rights and dignity must be guaranteed.
She also stressed that strong, respected police officers are essential at a time when public concern over crime is growing. “We will be by your side in your fair demands,” she said, a message echoed by MPs from across the political spectrum.
Prodromos Christofi, president of the Equality Union, went further, arguing that the decision is illegal on several levels. He said the Chief of Police was constitutionally obliged to consult with staff representatives, had no authority to unilaterally change working hours, and had effectively slashed officers’ rest time by as much as 75%.
Under the new system, he explained, officers would now need to use two days of leave to secure what used to be a single day off. “For me, this is clearly illegal,” Christofi said, adding that a simple dialogue could have avoided the standoff.
MPs from all parliamentary parties met with protesters during the three-hour demonstration and expressed support, agreeing that unilateral decisions on working conditions are unacceptable. They pledged to work toward a solution through Parliament.
The protest ended after the Legal Affairs Committee wrapped up its session. Loizides later told union members that MPs had indicated a willingness to push for changes but warned that if no solution is found, the fight will continue.
