Government hourly workers to strike on September 17 over wage dispute

Hourly government employees in Cyprus are set to hold a 24-hour strike on September 17, 2026, following a stalemate in negotiations regarding the renewal of their collective labor agreement for the 2025-2027 period. The decision follows a meeting of the Joint Labor Committee held on September 7, convened by the Director General of the Ministry of Finance, which failed to produce a resolution.

Trade unions representing the workers, namely OEKDY SEK, PASYEK PEO, and DEE KDOKO DEOK, report that the government continues to insist on a proposal submitted on July 21, 2026, which lacks any wage increases for the three-year term. This offer had been formally rejected by the General Councils of the unions on August 5, 2026.

The unions state that they provided sufficient time for dialogue and established procedures, but the government's refusal to adjust its position left them with no alternative but to proceed with the industrial action. There are no further negotiation meetings currently scheduled, and the strike remains confirmed for the specified date.