Hourly-paid government employees in Cyprus staged the first 24-hour strike of its kind on Wednesday, marching from the Ministry of Finance to the Presidential Palace as they demanded higher wages and the renewal of their collective agreement.

Protesters gathered outside the Ministry of Finance before marching to the Presidential Palace, chanting slogans including “No to starvation wages” and “Enough of the mockery, we are not second-class workers.” Union representatives later delivered a memorandum to the President of the Republic, calling for his intervention in negotiations with the finance ministry.

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According to the unions, hourly-paid government employees have received total wage increases of just 1.5% over the past 17 years.

A Broad Cross-Section Of The Public Sector Walks Out

The strike brought together workers from across the hourly government workforce, including skilled technicians, conservators of antiquities, builders, engine operators, road transport inspectors, cleaning staff, health services personnel, forest firefighters, firefighters and lifeguards.

Giorgos Constantinou, secretary-general of OEKDY SEK, said in a speech outside the Presidential Palace that this was the first time in the history of the Republic of Cyprus that hourly government staff had launched a 24-hour strike. “We are demanding wage increases,” he said, adding that it is “unacceptable” for the government to treat hourly staff unfavorably despite the essential work they perform in keeping the state machinery running.

Stavros Andreou, secretary-general of PASYEK-PEO, said the workers were demanding to be heard. “We are not beggars and we are not asking anyone for charity. We are asking the state to adopt policies that allow workers to live with dignity,” he said, noting that hourly government employees are paid at minimum-wage levels. He added that 30% of hourly government workers earn up to €1,500 a month.

Andreas Antoniou, secretary-general of DEE KDOKO DEOK, said hourly employees are low-paid and cannot keep pace with the demands of the modern economy. He noted that the overall increase since 2009 has been just 1.5%, despite Cyprus posting one of the strongest growth rates in Europe, and argued that wages should rise accordingly.

Their Case Before The President

In the memorandum submitted to the President of the Republic through government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis, the workers asked for his intervention. “We address you with the expectation that you will intervene immediately so that an agreement can be reached for the renewal of the collective agreement for hourly government staff and wages can improve,” the document said.

The memorandum further argues that hourly government workers are paid significantly less than employees in comparable private-sector roles working the same number of hours per week.

It also states that, although the total public service payroll has increased, the cost of the hourly government workforce has declined and is now well below even its 2011 level. According to the unions, requests for wage increases have been on the table since April of last year.

Warnings Of A Broader Escalation

After the memorandum was delivered, Andreou said the government spokesman had committed to relaying the unions’ position to the president and the finance minister. The workers and unions, he said, would allow the government time to review the document before deciding their next move.

“If we do not receive a positive response, if the President of the Republic does not open the door to dialogue through his intervention, we will discuss among ourselves and respond in the coming period more dynamically, more massively and with different, perhaps more forceful, methods,” he said.

Constantinou said the unions had explained to the government spokesman the importance of hourly government staff to the functioning of the state. He said they had been assured that the President would be informed and that the Ministry of Finance would also be briefed, expressing hope that an agreement enabling pay increases could be reached in the coming days.

Antoniou added that the unions had explained to the spokesman that most hourly workers earn wages that “barely allow them to get by.” He said they hoped the message would reach the President so that, through his intervention, the finance ministry would enter into meaningful dialogue aimed at a swift agreement.

Workers Describe Strain On Household Budgets

Speaking to journalists, a health-sector employee said the workers are asking for the wage increases that have been delayed for years, as well as respect and dignity. Another health worker, who said she has been employed for a decade, reported a monthly salary of €1,000 and questioned how anyone can live with dignity on that income when monthly expenses are higher.

A district administration employee with 40 years of service said his salary had not risen above €2,000, describing it as a “starvation wage.” Another worker with 33 years of service said he could still not afford necessities.

A lifeguard said lifeguards are among the most disadvantaged hourly employees because they work on six-month contracts and receive no provident fund or other benefits. “The state should give us the basic rights every worker has so that young people will continue to see a future in the profession,” he said, adding that six-month contracts drive people away into other jobs.

Government Says Talks Will Continue

Government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said discussions would continue, noting that the finance ministry had viewed some of the unions’ requests positively during a meeting held the previous day. After receiving the memorandum, he said it would be forwarded to the President.

Letymbiotis also highlighted measures introduced by the government over the past three years, including wage progression under scale A2.5.7, the full restoration of the cost-of-living allowance, the recent tax reform and the 1.5% across-the-board increase for public-sector employees.

Responding to comments by Finance Minister Makis Keravnos that the demands could exceed €50 million, Letymbiotis said one wage-related request alone would cost around €30 million over three years.

“These are not insignificant amounts,” he said. “They are substantial sums that must be considered in relation to the rest of the public sector, to salary levels and to the state’s fiscal capacity.”