Government Hourly-Paid Personnel will hold a 24-hour strike on 17 September, after the government failed to revise a pay proposal that trade unions had already rejected, according to an announcement by SEK (Cyprus Workers' Confederation).
Joint Labour Committee meeting
A session of the Joint Labour Committee was held, convened by the Director-General of the Ministry of Finance, to discuss the renewal of the Collective Labour Agreement for Government Hourly-Paid Personnel covering 2025-2027.
Government proposal rejected in August
The government side maintained the proposal it had submitted in writing on 21 July 2026, which did not include pay rises for 2025-2027. The proposal had already been rejected by the General Councils of the trade union organisations OEKDY-SEK, PASYEK-PEO and DEE KDOKO-DEOK on 5 August 2026. The unions submitted their response in writing to the Chair of the Joint Labour Committee, announcing a 24-hour strike for 17 September 2026.
Unions say government left no alternative
According to the unions, they had allowed time for procedures to be followed and for dialogue aimed at reaching an agreement. They said the government has insisted on its position, leaving no other option for a response. The unions stated that responsibility for the disruption and problems expected during the 24-hour strike rests exclusively with the government.
Scope of the strike
On 17 September 2026, the strike will involve all Government Hourly-Paid Personnel across all government departments and services, all hourly-paid staff at the State Health Services Organisation (OKYpY), and all staff at School Boards.
