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Thousands of hourly-paid government workers are set to strike next Wednesday, demanding higher wages and improved benefits amid ongoing negotiations with unions for new contracts.
The strike, scheduled for June 24, was announced by the unions OEKDY SEK, PASYEK PEO, and DEE KDOKO DEOK, which say workers have been left waiting too long for a new collective labor agreement.
At the heart of the dispute is a demand for higher wages and improved benefits, with unions calling for any increases to be applied retroactively from January 1, 2025.
The negotiations concern the renewal of the collective agreement covering the period 2025 to 2027.
The people behind many everyday services
Hourly government employees may not always be in the spotlight, but they carry out many of the day-to-day jobs that help keep public services running.
They work in schools, government departments, maintenance services, technical support roles, and other areas of the public sector.
Union representatives argue that many workers are struggling with the same cost-of-living pressures facing households across Cyprus, including higher prices for food, electricity, housing, and fuel.
They say salaries have not kept pace with rising expenses and that employees deserve better compensation for the work they perform.
Protest planned in Nicosia
As part of the strike, workers will gather outside the Ministry of Finance in Nicosia at 10 a.m. before marching to the Presidential Palace.
Organizers say the demonstration is intended to highlight both their demands and the role hourly-paid staff play in the public sector.
The unions have not ruled out further measures if an agreement is not reached.
Why it matters
The dispute comes at a time when wage pressures are being felt across both the public and private sectors.
While inflation has eased from previous highs, many families say everyday expenses remain stubbornly high, leaving workers increasingly focused on pay rises that can help restore purchasing power.
For many hourly government employees, the issue is straightforward: after years of rising costs, they say their pay packets simply aren't stretching as far as they used to.
Next Wednesday's strike will be one of the clearest signs yet of the growing pressure workers are feeling and could put fresh pressure on the government to find common ground at the negotiating table.
