Okypy workers threaten strike over hiring of seasonal workers

Workers at the state health services organisation (Okypy) on Monday threatened to go on strike over the organisation’s hiring of seasonal workers.

Two trade unions, Pasykek-Peo and Oekdy-Sek, announced they will hold a meeting with Okypy on Tuesday with the aim of avoiding the strike, which has been pencilled in for July 23 should a resolution not be found.

Should the strike go ahead, it will last for 24 hours, beginning at 6.30am on the day.

The unions expressed their “dissatisfaction with Okypy’s policy of hiring seasonal staff to cover its permanent needs” and added that the policy “victimises workers” and creates a two-speed system of employees within the organisation.

For this reason, they said, they will “not accept” any continuation of the policy.

According to the Cyprus News Agency, the unions aim to sign an agreement with Okypy which will bind them to a commitment to cover any “permanent staffing needs” with permanent staff being paid by the hour.

Should Okypy refuse to accept this demand, they said, they will go on strike.