Pasykek-Peo threatens strikes over hourly government workers' collective agreement

The trade union Pasykek-Peo has issued a warning of potential industrial action, including strikes, should the government fail to finalize a new collective agreement for hourly government staff by September 28, 2026. The union’s expanded executive council convened on September 21 to address the status of the 2025-2027 contract, insisting that the government must adhere to the timeline and commitments established during a September 16 meeting at the Presidential Palace.

This dispute follows the suspension of a 24-hour nationwide strike originally planned for September 17. The union had agreed to pause the action after President Nikos Christodoulides intervened and acknowledged the workers' demands for improved base wages and starting salaries. Union representatives have emphasized that the previous suspension was not a "blank cheque" and they remain steadfast in their demands. They are calling for intensive negotiations with Finance Minister Makis Keravnos in the coming days to ensure an agreement is reached that satisfies the workers' objectives without any further delays or deviations from the agreed-upon schedule.