Relations between the Ministry of Finance and hourly-paid government employees are reaching a breaking point, with the unions planning a 24-hour island-wide strike on September 17, denouncing the government’s refusal to grant pay raises. The strike is expected to affect key sectors of the state apparatus, as labor unions warn that this time, not even security personnel will be available.
Speaking on the “Alpha News” program, the General Secretary of OEKDY SEK, George Konstantinou, explained the background of the dispute, noting that demands for the renewal of the collective bargaining agreement had been submitted as early as 2025. As he noted, the decision to strike was ratified by the General Councils of the unions (OEKDY SEK, PASYEK PEO, and DEEKDOKO DEOK), following the definitive deadlock at the July 17 meeting at the Ministry of Finance, where it became clear that the government does not intend to meet the wage demands, offering only isolated, minor benefits.
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At the heart of the dispute are approximately 11,700 employees—7,500 in government agencies, 1,700 in the OKYPY, and 2,500 in school districts— who are among the lowest-paid in the public sector, starting at the minimum wage of 980 euros. “These are workers whose incomes need to be improved so they can make a decent living,” Mr. Konstantinou emphasized, noting that the problem is exacerbated when both members of a family are paid under this system.
Responding to questions about budgetary constraints, the Secretary-General of OEKDY SEK described the request as entirely reasonable, as it involves increases of 8% over a three-year period (2% for 2025, 3% for 2026, and 3% for 2027), with a total cost of less than 17 million euros. In fact, he pointed to the budget surplus of 567 million euros recorded by the state in the first quarter of 2026, noting: “Given the surpluses reported by the government, this amount is more than covered. It does not create any financial problem, and that is clear.”
The upcoming mobilization is gaining unprecedented momentum, as it has been decided not to apply the security personnel measure to essential sectors, such as public hospitals, the Blood Bank, the Forestry Department, and the Fire Department. “Overall, hourly-wage staff will go on strike. If they believe their role is not important, we must prove them wrong,” Mr. Konstantinou clarified, adding that there had been ample time to find a solution but that the government had failed to take the matter seriously enough.
In closing, Mr. Konstantinou warned that the 24-hour strike “is only the beginning” if there is no reversal of the government’s position, placing the entire responsibility squarely on the other side: “Any responsibility for whatever happens rests solely with the government. The government must assume its share of responsibility. Under no circumstances will we accept the devaluation of workers.”
