Ministry of Education support staff initiate 24-hour strike

Employees of the Ministry of Education's support programs held a 24-hour strike on October 23, 2026, to protest the lack of progress regarding their employment demands. The unions involved, PASEY-PEO and OEKDY-SEK, stated that negotiations held last week failed to produce an agreement on the income replacement allowance during summer months and the announcement of new support program postings.

Union leaders, including PASEY-PEO General Secretary Andreas Kounnis and OEKDY-SEK General Secretary Giorgos Konstantinou, openly criticized the Ministry and the Minister, accusing them of providing misleading information. According to union representatives, more than 100 workers in these programs are currently unemployed, while over 300 individuals are affected by the ongoing instability.

The unions have warned that if their demands remain unaddressed, they will stage another 24-hour strike on November 2, with the possibility of escalating to an indefinite strike action. The workers held a protest rally at the Ethnomyrtis Kyprianou Lyceum to highlight their plight, citing that despite repeated meetings, the Ministry continues to request delays while hundreds of employees remain without a steady income.