KAMU-IS union is on its third day of strikes in protest against the government’s removal of severance payments for state employees.
Yesterday, there were demonstrations in front of the Prime Minister’s Office. Posters were unfurled calling on the government to resign and there was also a sit-in.
Various other unions came out in support and joined in the demonstrations.
Arslan Bicakli, head of the umbrella union TURK-SEN, said that the current government had bankrupted Cyprus Turkish Airways, sold off universities and Ercan airport. Now in these times of economic hardship, it was attempting to remove workers’ rights.
He pointed out that neither the Prime Minister nor his ministers had taken any cut in their salaries.
Perhaps this was in reference to the Greek Cypriot President who had ordered a 25% pay cut for himself and his ministers.
