Thousands left without buses in Paphos as strike continues

There is no end in the Paphos bus strike that began Tuesday, with over 20,000 people being affected as drivers tell company executives they won’t drive until they get paid.

The strike is being carried out by organised employees of the Pafos Transport Organization (OSYPA), who claim they have not been paid their salaries for the month of April.

The company, which took over in 2010 and acquired a new fleet over the years, reportedly is negotiating with the government in order to receive state subsidies.

The Transport Ministry on Wednesday issued a statement saying efforts were being made to settle the dispute at the soonest possible and have buses restart their routes.

On the part of the strikers, OSYPA representative Christos Evangelou said that drivers had already decided to go on strike in case the company did not pay salaries.

Last December a similar situation took place which ended with all parties coming to an agreement. 

An estimate 6,000 students use public trasport and another 16,000 people are potentially being affected by the strike this week.