Trade unions say difficult conditions facing Cyprus' electricity system prompted the decision to postpone planned industrial measures.
Trade unions representing employees at the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) have suspended the industrial action they had planned until September, citing the difficult conditions currently affecting the country's electricity system.
The decision comes as households and businesses continue to experience periodic power cuts, with the unions saying recent events have validated warnings they have made over the past several years.
"Unfortunately, recent developments have confirmed, in the worst possible way, everything that the trade unions have pointed out and predicted over the past several years," the organisations said in a joint statement.
Impact on electricity consumers
The unions apologised for the disruption caused to consumers by the rolling power cuts, which they said were the result of "the state's inaction and the inability of the independent institutions to ensure an adequate electricity supply for the country."
They also said EAC employees remain committed to restoring faults as quickly as possible.
"With seriousness and a sense of responsibility towards society and consumers, we assure the public that all EAC employees are making, and will continue to make, superhuman efforts day and night to immediately repair any faults that arise, both at power generation units and across the distribution and transmission networks," the statement said.
Meeting with government
The announcement followed a meeting on July 22 with the Minister of Energy and the Deputy Minister to the President.
According to the unions, "although the government acknowledged that our positions were justified, it came without substantial proposals or solutions that satisfy the serious issues placed before it regarding electricity adequacy, security of supply and reducing the cost of electricity for consumers."
Call for action
The organisations said they could not ignore what they described as continued inaction on issues affecting the country's energy security and electricity costs.
"As employees of the EAC, with the sole objective of serving the interests of society and citizens, we cannot remain indifferent to the inactivity that maintains energy insecurity and places an additional financial burden on citizens," they said, adding that they expect the state to take the necessary decisions and actions to address these issues.
Industrial action on hold
The unions concluded by confirming that the planned industrial measures have been put on hold for the time being.
"Taking into account the difficult conditions prevailing in the country's electricity system, the industrial measures we announced are suspended until September 2026."
