EPSU protests over pay cuts imposed on nurses in Cyprus

(Brussels/Nicosia, 31 October 2013)

EPSU has written to the Minister of Finance of Cyprus to protest about the government’s decision to make drastic cuts to nurses’ pay and conditions without any preceding dialogue with trade unions and employers’ organisations.

The measures include a 15% reduction to all shift benefits of nursing personnel for night shifts and 35% for Sundays and public holidays, as of 1 January 2013. In addition, on 26 September 2013 the government proposed a law which, if voted, would abolish all benefits for evening shifts and it would also entail a further reduction, beyond the initial 15%, on night duty shifts and 50% on Sundays and public holidays as on January 2014. These cuts are on top of more general cuts imposed on health workers.

EPSU calls on the government to engage in proper social dialogue and warns of demotivation of workers and the risk of losing qualified staff to other jobs or emigration.

EPSU also urges the government of Cyprus to reconsider its position and to revise decisions taken that harm their health system, that violate the rights of health workers and put at risk their health and safety and that have a negative impact on the extent of and the quality of care provided to the patients and users of health services. Reduced numbers of nurses in wards will lead to more stress and to work overload. This in turn risks entailing more errors, more injuries, a higher failure to rescue and a reduced quality of care.

Read EPSU's Letter of Support to PASYDY


Read an open letter by the European Federation of Nurses (EFN) on the same issue.


Read a letter written by the International Council of Nurses (ICN) with the same aim.


Nurses joined other public sectors workers in a protest against austerity measures on Tuesday 29 October 2013.

Read more on this in the Newspaper "Cyprus Mail"

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