Workers End Limassol Strike

Youtube The indefinite strike in the Port of Limassol has been terminated as port unions have called their members to return to work after the government passed a new legislation on port workers rights. Namely, the countrys parliament fast-tracked a bill aimed at allowing port authority employees to be reappointed to other posts within civil service as well as a voluntary retirement scheme, the Cyprus Mail reports. The parliament also backed the privatization of the port. The workers launched the strike on Monday, March 21st protesting against the privatization of the port and the selected bids, deeming them too low and voicing their fears on potential layoffs as a result of the privatization. The strike saw maritime pilots, mechanics, and tugboat captains walk out to defend their rights against what they described as “mockery” on the part of the officials involved in the port privatization process. The two-year privatization was concluded at the end of February when the new operators of the port’s container terminal, marine services and multi-purpose terminal were announced. The privatization of commercial operations at Limassol and Larnaca has been agreed between Cyprus and international creditors as part of the country’s bailout plan. World Maritime News Staff