 |
| The organisations warn they will escalate the matter to state watchdogs if no action is taken. File photo |
Three unions accuse the board chairman of interfering in the Authority's day-to-day management and exceeding his powers.
Three trade unions representing employees at the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) have submitted a letter to the organisation's Board of Directors alleging serious governance issues linked to the conduct of board chairman George Petrou.
The unions, EPOPAI, SEPAIK and SIDIKEK, claim the chairman has repeatedly exceeded the limits of his role by intervening directly in the work of the Authority. They argue his actions interfere with the organisation's decision-making process, disrupt normal operations and create uncertainty for employees.
According to the letter, Petrou has told staff he is acting on verbal instructions from the Presidential Palace while directing officials to reverse or ignore unanimous decisions already approved by the Board. The unions describe this as an unacceptable practice that places the organisation at significant institutional and legal risk.
They also argue that only the Board has the authority to make or amend its decisions, adding that the chairman cannot legally bypass collective decisions or rely on references to the Presidency to justify personal directives.
The employee organisations further claim the chairman's actions weaken the Authority's management structure, expose public officials to potential legal consequences and interfere with the effective running of the organisation.
The unions are calling for an extraordinary meeting of the Board, where they want members to demand an immediate end to what they describe as unilateral interventions by the chairman. They are also asking the Board to ensure employees are protected from unlawful verbal instructions.
If no action is taken, the unions say they will refer the matter to the Republic's oversight bodies, including the Auditor General and parliamentary committees, while pursuing any legal measures they consider necessary to protect the Authority, its workforce and the public interest.
