The Turkish Cypriot Electricity Authority Employees Union (El-Sen) launched an indefinite strike on Wednesday the Teknecik power station, on the grounds that there had been no tender for four generators as per the agreement signed with the government.
During the strike, which is also supported by the Trade Union Platform, cashiers will not work and any power cuts will not be rectified with the exception of schools and hospitals.
On 6 September, the leader of El-Sen Kubilay Özkıraç, signed a protocol with the government on the understanding that four new generators would be purchased by the North Cyprus state-owned power authority Kib-Tek.
Last week an official from the Energy Ministry said that a committee had been set up to review energy needs but had made no decision as yet.
Özkıraç pointed out that the trade union was not demanding anything on behalf of the employees, but decided to launch their strike regarding the purchase of generators only in order to meet the need for cheap electricity and energy to be generated in the coming years.
The union leader said that the government asked the union for a 48 hour delay before striking but they rejected this request.
Meanwhile, leader of the Turkish Cypriot Trade Unions Federation (Türk-Sen) Arslan Bıçaklı, pointed out the need for investment in the power plant and called on the government to stand behind its contract. A protocol signed between the TRNC government and Turkey anticipates electricity being conveyed by undersea cable from the Turkish mainland to North Cyprus. Bıçaklı says he does not support this agreement.
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