A BILL increasing the minimum number of members to create a union from 20 to 100, as well as an increase in registration fees, was yesterday submitted to parliament by the labour ministry.The chairman of the House labour committee, AKEL’s Andreas Fakontis, said the increase of union members was proposed for two main reasons... Read on

 AROUND 400 CyBC staff have threatened stronger measures, following a four-hour black out on Thursday night in protest over not being paid their March wages after parliament suspended a vote approving their 2012 budget.“We will take measures and they may be in strike form. For the moment employees will work through the weekend even though they haven’t been paid, and on Monday we’ll have a meeting at the Labour Ministry to discuss the issue,” said trade union OHO-SEK’s general secretary Andreas Elias.Elias pointed out that not paying wages was a violation of their employment terms. “We have no other choice but to take measures,” he said, adding that it was the responsibility of the CyBC board, parliament and the government to make sure they got paid... 8 comments

THE HOUSE yesterday passed a law with immediate effect restricting the right of air traffic controllers to strike, in a move designed to put a stop to a string of work stoppages by controllers that have wrought havoc on air travel in recent weeks.The government bill, fast-tracked by the executive and the legislature working in rare unison, makes it a criminal offence for any ATC to refuse to work when required, and provides for penalties of up two years in prison and/or a fine of €2,550. The penalties are provided for under an existing law.  ... Read on

THE AIR traffic controllers (ATC) went ahead with another four-hour strike yesterday, causing the disruption of 36 flights, despite rumours the government is ready to table a bill today clipping the wings of striking controllers. Yesterday’s strike affected around 4,500 people and 36 flights to and from both airports of Cyprus. It was the second this month, while another two have been scheduled for next Monday and Thursday. According to Adamos Aspris, spokesman for airports’ operator Hermes, almost all cancelled flights were due to be rescheduled by the end of the day. ... 10 comments

 THE concrete-making industry will halt work as of today after running out of cement due to the ongoing strike at the island’s only cement factory, concrete makers said yesterday.Employees at Vassilikos Cement Works went on strike last Thursday over their collective agreements.“Supply stopped on Thursday and we have been using our stock. But we have run out,” said Neoclis Kyriacou, the head of the Cyprus Association of Ready-Made Concrete Manufacturers. “We managed to stretch our stocks,” Kyriacou said.Cement sales fell by over 40 per cent last year in comparison to 2010.Fewer building permits are being issued and most new projects are classified as ‘small’... Read on

ANOTHER TWELVE flights and 1,500 passengers were affected last night and this morning after the Paphos control tower was left unstaffed for 13 hours through the night. The latest travel upset comes after air traffic controllers (ATCs) went on a four-strike on Friday, disrupting 20 flights to and from the island’s two airports, while hurting the island financially and politically. The ATCs plan another three four-hour strikes on March 7, 12 and 15 as part of scheduled industrial action over pay cuts.   Hermes’ Airports spokesman Adamos Aspris said the absence of ATCs at the Paphos control tower from 7pm yesterday until 8am today “unfortunately” meant the airport had to close during those hours. ... 23 comments

 GOVERNMENT and parliament were engaged in talks yesterday with a view to regulating strikes in essential services, as fresh industrial action by air traffic controllers (ATCs) over a pay dispute, inconvenienced thousands of passengers and hurt the island financially and politically.Communications Minister Efthimios Flourentzos said consultations were taking place between the government and political parties, expressing hope that the problem would be resolved.Twenty flights were disrupted yesterday, as striking ATCs shut down the Republic’s two airports for hours, on the first day of scheduled industrial action.“Certainly the damage is huge,” the minister told reporters... 17 comments

AIR TRAFFIC to and from the island will temporarily grind to a halt today as air traffic controllers (ATCs) again strike over a pay dispute with the government.The controllers will be striking at Larnaca and Paphos airports from noon to 4pm, while more work stoppages are planned for the 7th, 12th and 15th of this month. The action will not include VIP flights, state and military flights or emergencies... 16 comments

THE government yesterday issued an appeal to air traffic controllers (ATCs) to rethink their decision to strike over a pay dispute - considering the damage to the ailing economy - as businesses demanded their replacement and privatisation of the service.Communications Minister Efthymios Flourentzos urged ATCs “to weigh the facts and take into serious consideration the consequences their strike would have on the country’s economy”.The controllers announced last week they would be shutting down Larnaca and Paphos airports for four hours each day from 12pm on March 2, 7, 12 and 15.The controllers want to be excluded from a raft of austerity measures, which include pension contributions and a two-year pay freeze, passed in December... 12 comments

 AIR TRAFFIC controllers (ATCs) yesterday announced four strikes for March, accusing the state of lacking the will for substantive dialogue to resolve a pay dispute.The controllers announced they would be shutting down Larnaca and Paphos airports for four hours each day from 12pm on March 2, 7, 12 and 15.ATC union PASEEK said it was left with “no other choice than to repeat and escalate strike measures” in the face of the communication ministry’s insistence.The controllers accused the ministry of rejecting compromising proposals tabled by various sides.But they did express their regrets to passengers who will be affected by their strikes, asking for their understanding... 4 comments