Cyprus public hospital unions and state health organization seek strike resolution

Trade unions and the State Health Services Organization (OKYPY) in Cyprus are engaged in intensive negotiations to avert a planned 48-hour strike at public hospitals scheduled for November 10 and 11. The industrial action was initially called by six unions—PASYDY, SEK, PEO, DEOK, PASYKI, and PASYNO—over a dispute regarding the renewal of their collective labor agreement, with key disagreements centering on pay increases and their potential link to employee performance appraisals.

Following a productive meeting on November 4, mediated in part by Health Minister Neophytos Charalambides, a new proposal has emerged from OKYPY. The organization offered a 2.75% horizontal salary increase for 2026 and another 2.75% for 2027, decoupling these raises from individual performance evaluations. This marks a departure from a previous offer that linked 25% of the 2027 raise to performance metrics.

The unions have granted a deadline until Friday for the organization to finalize this offer in writing. While the strike remains officially scheduled, the postponement of a planned press conference and the optimistic tone from both sides suggest a potential path toward resolution. If a final agreement is ratified by the OKYPY board and accepted by the unions, the strike will be suspended.