At 5:30 this morning, a 48-hour strike began involving 120 employees of Larnaca Public Transport (LPT), who have gathered at the Larnaca bus station.

According to a joint statement by the trade unions OMEPEGE-SEK, SEGDEMELIN-PEO, and DEE EMPORIKON DEOK, the strike action is taking place “in accordance with the Industrial Relations Code, following a violation of the Collective Agreement, which was officially confirmed by the Department of Labour Relations of the Ministry of Labour.”

The statement adds that the “blatant” violation, as described by the unions, concerns the agreed 38-hour weekly work schedule (7 hours and 36 minutes per day). During a meeting held on Tuesday, July 29, at the Ministry of Labour, the negotiating committee gave the company a final deadline until that evening to comply. It was stated that if the agreements were not upheld, employees would proceed with a 48-hour strike starting Wednesday, July 30.

According to the announcement, “the unions will defend the Collective Agreements and the agreed terms by all legal means and ask for the public’s understanding in case of any inconvenience.” They also call on “Larnaca Public Transport Services and Operations Ltd to respect the collective agreement and implement what has been agreed upon.”