Workers are striking again at Cyprus Ports Authority’s (CPA) Limassol and Larnaca ports in a bid to protest against the proposed privatisation plan being voted on this week, which they say will mean job losses.
The port workers have been on a work to rule since 15 February, when the government cut overtime as part of its recent austerity measures.
As it stands at the moment (27 February 2014) port workers will not service any ships at the ports over this weekend, except for cruisers and warships, although office workers are expected to return to their desks on Friday 28 February.
The union has said that the government plans to privatise the port in 27 months time so strikers feel they have nothing to lose if they stand to lose their jobs anyway.
Meanwhile, the cash strapped Cyprus government believes that organisations involved in commercial activities cannot continue to operate as an extension of the state.
A Bill, entitled Denationalisation Law of 2014, is being voted on today (27 February 2014) in parliament and port workers are expected to join others from semi-government organisations, namely the Electricity Authority (ECA) and telecommunications Authority (CyTA) gathering in front of the House to protest.
This Bill is so important to the government because it means that the next bailout of €235m from the EU will be payable. It needs to be approved by 5 March, which is five days ahead of when the Eurogroup meets to discuss the next aid package to Cyprus.
Meanwhile, the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce has estimated that shipping companies, importers and exporters have suffered heavy losses since the work to rule began. Media reports state that several ships have had to be diverted away from Limassol so far as a result of the troubles causing delays of one week in import deliveries.
The danger is that shipping companies may decide that other trade routes are less troublesome, including those through Israeli ports.
