three-hour strike — three-hour strike — Cyprus will experience widespread disruption on Thursday due to a three-hour nationwide strike, affecting airports, schools, and public services as workers voice their concerns over the Cost-of-Living Allowance (CoLA).
- As the situation unfolds, the strike is poised to affect many aspects of daily life in Cyprus, highlighting ongoing tensions around workers' rights and economic reform.
Hermes Airports announced that more than 50 flights at Larnaca and Paphos airports are likely to be delayed or cancelled between 11am and 2pm, impacting over 15,000 passengers. Airlines are working to reschedule flights, and passengers are encouraged to stay in touch with their airlines for the latest updates. The airport operator confirmed that flight information will also be available on their official website.
Among the flights already cancelled are those of Jazeera Airways to Kuwait, Qatar Airways to Doha, and Emirates from Dubai to Malta. To manage the surge of passengers after the strike, additional staff will be on duty once normal operations resume at 2pm.
Schools are preparing for early closures as a precautionary measure. Parents are advised to collect their children at 11am, since school buses will not operate during the strike period. Students attending all-day schools will return at 2pm to continue their lessons, although no lunches will be provided. Privately run nursery schools will follow their employers’ guidelines.
Public transport services are also set to face significant disruption. Cyprus Public Transport (CPT) has confirmed that scheduled routes may not operate as planned during the strike, advising passengers to make alternative travel arrangements. Only morning school bus routes will run, and no return services will be available.
Health services will remain operational but with reduced staffing levels. The national health scheme (Okypy) indicated that hospital wards and A&E departments will function with skeleton staff from 11am to 2pm. Scheduled operations will conclude before the strike begins, and emergency care will still be provided.
Citizen service centres will close during the strike hours, and affected individuals will be notified about rescheduling appointments. The Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) will operate its customer service offices only for a limited time earlier in the day, resuming regular hours in the afternoon after the strike ends.
The strike follows unsuccessful negotiations earlier this week between unions, employers, and the government regarding CoLA reforms, which also encompass changes to taxes and pensions. President Christodoulides described these reforms as essential for modernising the state system but acknowledged that such changes often provoke reactions.
Labour Minister Yiannis Panayiotou emphasised the need to update the allowance to reflect current societal needs, suggesting a graduated scale for CoLA. He argued that not all public servants should receive the same support to cope with rising costs.
Trade unions, including Sek and Peo, insist that the strike is vital to protect workers’ rights, particularly those on minimum wage. While employer groups have expressed support for modernisation, they criticise the timing of the strike and its potential impact on essential services.
Demonstrations are also planned across various towns in Cyprus as part of the industrial action. The business community has voiced concerns over the economic implications of the strike, particularly regarding labour costs and inflation.
Political reactions to the strike have been mixed, with some parties supporting the restoration of allowances while others back the strike as a necessary measure. President Christodoulides has called for calm, asserting that industrial action does not facilitate reform.
As the situation unfolds, the strike is poised to affect many aspects of daily life in Cyprus, highlighting ongoing tensions around workers’ rights and economic reform.
