Police warned of traffic disruption in Nicosia on Thursday afternoon, when workers on support programmes run by the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth march from the Finance Ministry to the Presidential Palace in protest. The workers have been on indefinite strike since Monday, over unresolved employment issues.
Protesters will gather at the Ministry of Finance at 3pm before setting off for the palace.
The protest is the high point of the workers’ action. In a joint statement a few days ago, the SEK and PEO unions said the government keeps putting off a political decision on paying staff whose employment has not been terminated. They said the delay has left workers without pay, income or access to unemployment benefit for five months.
The teachers’ unions POED and OELMEK have backed the workers and urged their members to join Thursday’s protest.
“The Education Ministry is once again failing to protect the dignity of its workers,” POED said.
OELMEK said it was unacceptable that teachers who do valuable work in state education and help support pupils and families should face job insecurity and long periods without income.
Traffic is expected to be temporarily affected on roads along the route and around the Presidential Palace. Officers will be in the area to handle security and traffic and to keep vehicles moving.
Police urged the public to avoid the affected areas where possible, to be patient and to follow officers’ instructions.
