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Cyprus is bracing for a nationwide strike Thursday after last-ditch talks failed to resolve a standoff over the cost-of-living allowance (ATA).
Labor Minister Yiannis Panayiotou tried to persuade unions to call it off, but leaders said there wasn’t enough progress to justify backing down.
According to Kathimerini's Marios Chritofi, the strike, set for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., will bring much of the country to a standstill, with walkouts across both the public and private sectors. Unions plan rallies in all districts, with the main demonstration outside the Finance Ministry in Nicosia at noon.
Schools and parents
The Education Ministry has told parents to pick up children from schools at 11 a.m. Bus services will not run at that time. Students in all-day and special interest schools can return at 2 p.m. if parents transport them. Meals will not be provided.
Community kindergartens, which operate under private law, will follow instructions from their individual operators.
Health and hospitals
Hospitals will operate with skeleton staff handling emergencies only. All scheduled appointments and surgeries between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. have been canceled and will be rescheduled.
Flights and airports
Air travel will take a hit, with more than 50 flights at Larnaca and Paphos airports affected, impacting some 15,000 passengers, according to operator Hermes Airports. Six flights, to Kuwait, Doha, Dubai, and Malta, were canceled outright.
Airlines are rebooking passengers, and updates will be posted on www.hermesairports.com. Officials urged travelers to check directly with airlines or travel agents.
What stays open, what closes
- Banks: Will operate normally.
- Citizen Service Centers: Closed. Appointments will be rescheduled.
- Hotels: Expected to operate with minimal staff.
- Electricity Authority (EAC): Customer service centers are closed, but crews will remain on duty for faults and emergencies.
- Cyta (telecom): Stores closed, skeleton staff for emergencies.
- Buses: No routes nationwide.
- Police: Will be out in force to manage traffic and maintain order.
- Demonstrations and public order
Police said rallies are authorized but must remain peaceful under the Public Gatherings and Parades Law. Organizers are required to cooperate with authorities. Police may impose restrictions or disperse gatherings if violence or property damage occurs.
The bigger picture
The strike centers on the long-running dispute over the ATA, a cost-of-living allowance that unions want fully restored. Employers argue it is too costly, while the government has tried to broker a compromise.
For three hours on Thursday, however, much of Cyprus will pause, from airports and hospitals to classrooms and city streets, as unions flex their muscle to push for relief from rising prices.
