Strike suspended after no vote on cost of living bill

Following the suspension of strikes and protests, union representatives made statements in front of the Prime Ministry, Cyprus Turkish Electricity Authority (Kıb-Tek), and hospitals, stressing that their struggle will continue.

Union officials stated that even if the draft law is passed, protests will not end, and strongly criticized the government.

Speaking in front of the Prime Ministry, Türk-Sen President Arslan Bıçaklı criticized fuel price increases despite the absence of salary adjustments.

Bıçaklı said the government had been forced to withdraw the decree with the force of law, describing it as “a victory for the people,” and called on the government to resign.

He added that if the government attempts to pass the law on Monday, unions will once again gather in front of the Republic’s Assembly, stressing that protests will continue regardless of the outcome.

At Kıb-Tek, El-Sen President Ahmet Tuğcu described the electricity authority as a strategic institution, claiming it had been deliberately weakened through recent policies.

Tuğcu argued that ongoing issues in energy production could not be explained solely by technical faults, alleging that mismanagement and lack of planning were rendering the institution ineffective.

He also called for an independent investigation, under the leadership of the Chamber of Mechanical Engineers, into the causes of machinery failures, while criticizing the board of directors.

Speaking outside Dr. Burhan Nalbantoğlu State Hospital, Tıp-İş President Özlem Gürkut said government decisions were hindering public access to healthcare services.

Gürkut criticized the government for what she described as long-standing population policies that have strained the country’s resources, arguing that the cost of living reform initiative was an attempt to address the consequences of those policies. She also responded to criticism from the Health Minister, stating that the real threat to public health stems from government policies.

Meanwhile, Güven Bengihan, President of the Cyprus Turkish Civil Servants’ Trade Union, stated that healthcare workers continue their struggle despite strike bans, adding that their presence was both to show support and express gratitude.