All staff at the Deputy Ministry of Culture staged a one-hour walkout on Wednesday, from 9:00 to 10:00am, in protest at proposed changes to the Deputy Ministry’s budget and a series of workplace and operational grievances, according to the Pancyprian Public Employees Trade Union (PASYDY).
PASYDY said the Director-General is attempting to bring the Deputy Ministry’s entire budget under his own control, without informing or consulting either the department directors affected or the Deputy Ministry’s political head, Clea Papaellina. The union said this would concentrate control over most departmental responsibilities and project implementation in the Director-General’s hands, stripping departments of their autonomy and directors of their administrative role.
PASYDY said staff are seriously concerned because they have already identified what it described as a targeted effort by the Director-General to sideline and marginalise department directors, which it said is escalating through the proposed budget changes. The union added that, if approved, the changes would place oversight, monitoring and approval of all the Deputy Ministry’s financial transactions in the hands of one person.
PASYDY also cited repeated delays by the Director-General in processing approvals, which it said has stalled or delayed Deputy Ministry initiatives, along with what it called constant interference in departments’ work and unilateral decisions on matters it said fall under directors’ exclusive responsibility. The union further said ongoing dismissive conduct by the Director-General towards staff has created what it described as an intimidating, offensive and aggressive working environment, and named this as one of the main reasons for Wednesday’s protest.
PASYDY called on the Deputy Ministry’s administration to take immediate corrective action to restore normal operations, warning that it would otherwise have no choice but to take more assertive measures.
