The recent elections in several European countries that resulted in gains for extreme-right parties and even brought them into government were discussed at the constituency of the Mediterranean unions.
Unions organising local government, semi-public sector and contract workers called off a planned 3-hour strike following confirmation by the government that it would honour an agreement signed in January this year. The agreement included a commitment to a pay rise/recuperation of some of the pay cuts imposed since 2012 once the economy was growing again. The unions planned the strike when the government initially refused to discuss a pay rise despite positive economic developments.
Efforts to privatize utilities and health institutions, the outsourcing of services, overcrowded prisons, and the constant pressure on the unions from unfriendly governments were some of the themes discussed by the board of the Cyprus Turkish Civil Servants Trade union KTAMS with the EPSU General Secretary.
