The Platform of Unions in North Cyprus have announced that there will be a general strike and a rally on Monday, August 2nd, between the hours of 07.30 and 14.00. The rally will take place in front of the TRNC Parliament and is in response to the economic measures package prepared by the government. Members of four trade unions have already started an overtime ban at sea ports and Ercan airport and are suggesting that as a result of their action current entries and exits into North Cyprus were illegal.
These unions have alleged that they have not been paid for overtime for three months and Mehmet Özkardaş, leader of the Cyprus Turkish State Civil Servants’ Trade Union (KTAMS), is quoted in Cyprus Today (28/7/2010) as saying “they would actively try to stop vessels leaving GaziMağusa and Girne ports”. Nurses and midwives, also alleging that their overtime has not been paid, have apparently stated that they will only do emergency work outside of their normal working hours.
What the unions are complaining about are the government’s austerity measures partly brought about by Turkey saying that it is no longer prepared to continue funding salaries which are higher than the minimum wage in Turkey. The measures the North Cyprus government are putting in place include the removal of the system of paying a 13th month salary and an end to summer working hours. They are also intending to raise several taxes which will mean increased prices for petrol, electricity, alcohol, importing cars and many other things. They are also suggesting increases in income tax and for the first time they intend to tax pensioners’ income. Allowing the CTA to fail was the first indication of the government’s resolve to control spending.
It looks like a “summer of discontent” is inevitable but unless the unions can come up with an alternative strategy to balance the North Cyprus government budget then it is a small price to pay for putting the TRNC on a sound economic footing for probably the first time.
Recent Comments