Cyprus
(April 2017) The KTAMS civil service union in Cyprus organised strike action in the Turkish News Agency at the end of March over the denial of promotion to certain Agency employees. This is an issue that the union has taken up with the government which has prevented the Agency management from carrying out the promotions.
Around 2,000 employees at the government's Driving Standards Agency are taking strike action (17 July) over job cuts. A consultants' report recommended a reorganisation of the Agency with the closure of a number of centres and 80 job cuts. PCS union members are angry about the cutbacks which they say will threaten service quality and maintain that the Agency has begun implementing the consultants' recommendations without any consultation with the union. Read more at > PCS (EN)
Public sector cuts have even had an impact on intelligence and security staff with strike action announced for 6 December. The union representing staff in the agency say the dispute is over poor pay and working conditions as well as the need for increased employment in the agency, the evaluation of posts and implementation of social dialogue.
On 9 October the KTAMS civil service union organised a day of strike action in all workplaces in which it organises in protest at the sharply falling purchasing power of workers' pay. A steep decline in the Turkish Lira has led to much higher inflation, leaving the minimum wage effectively below the poverty level. The union wants to see legislation that will ensure the increasing cost of living is reflected in workers' pay on a monthly basis. During the day's strike action, KTAMS is organising a march to the parliament to present its proposals.
