Staff across the Deputy Ministry of Culture staged a one-hour spontaneous work stoppage on Wednesday, protesting proposed changes to budget management and raising concerns about the ministry's governance and decision-making processes.
The protest, organised with the support of PASYDY, took place between 9am and 10am and involved the ministry's entire workforce.
Dispute over budget control
According to PASYDY, the dispute centres on efforts by the ministry's Director-General to transfer control of the entire budget under his authority.
The union claims the move is being pursued without prior consultation with the directors of the ministry's departments or with the Deputy Minister of Culture, Klea Papaellina.
PASYDY argues that the proposed restructuring would place control of most departmental responsibilities, projects and programmes under a single official.
Union alleges concentration of authority
In a statement, PASYDY said the planned budget changes would effectively remove departmental autonomy and diminish the administrative role of department directors.
The union claimed the proposal seeks to centralise responsibility for the implementation of the ministry's projects and programmes while reducing the authority currently exercised by individual departments.
According to PASYDY, employees are increasingly concerned by what they describe as a pattern of marginalisation and sidelining of departmental directors, which they believe is now escalating through the proposed budget amendments.
Concerns over governance and oversight
The union also warned that if the proposed changes are approved, supervision, monitoring and approval of virtually all financial transactions within the ministry would be concentrated in a single individual.
PASYDY said such an arrangement raises concerns regarding accountability, administrative balance and the effective functioning of the ministry.
Complaints over delays and interventions
The protest was also linked to complaints about repeated delays in the approval of projects and initiatives.
According to PASYDY, delays in processing approvals have affected the implementation of ministry activities and programmes.
The union further accused the Director-General of frequent interventions in departmental operations and of imposing unilateral decisions on matters that it says fall exclusively within the responsibilities of department directors.
Claims of hostile work environment
Among the grievances raised by staff were allegations regarding the Director-General's conduct towards employees.
PASYDY claimed that ongoing behaviour by the official has created what it described as an intimidating, offensive and hostile working environment.
The union said these concerns form a significant part of the motivation behind Wednesday's protest action.
Warning of further action
PASYDY called on the ministry's administration to take immediate corrective measures aimed at restoring what it described as the institution's proper functioning.
The union warned that if no action is taken, employees may proceed with stronger industrial measures.
"We will have no other choice than to take more dynamic measures of reaction," PASYDY said.
Source: CNA
