BULLETIN PEO JANUARY 2017

B LLETIN

PEO

JANUARY 2017

CONTENTS

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Bi-communal mobilization in Support of Solution and Reunification Page : 2 Working people in the struggle for a solution and reunification Page : 3 PEO General Council: The struggle to restore workers’ rights continues

BI-COMMUNAL MOBILIZATION IN SUPPORT OF SOLUTION AND REUNIFICATION

Taking due regard of the critical stage of the negotiation process in Geneva for the solution of the Cyprus problem and the anticipation that the negotiations in Geneva will lead the process to successful conclusion, PEO , the Bi-communal Peace Initiative- United Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriot Solution

and Peace Platform took the initiative and organized a broad mobilization with the participation of 130 organizations, parties and groups from both communities ( Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots) that support the prospect of Solution and Reunification.

The event took place on the night 10th January, 2017 and despite the cold weather a large number of people met at the buffer zone in Nicosia and sent a message of unity in action and express the common desire of Turkish Cypriots, Greek Cypriots for Solution and Reunification of Cyprus.

Page : 4 2016 Report on the Economy and Employment of the Cyprus Labour Institute (INEK – PEO) Page : 6 The 17th Congress of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) concluded on Saturday 8th October 2016 in Durban South Africa Page : 8 PEO Working Women Office campaign to support working families by the Local Government

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PEO bulletin WORKING PEOPLE IN THE STRUGGLE FOR A SOLUTION AND REUNIFICATION Conference of the All-Cyprus Trade Union Forum On the pretext of the critical talks underway currently in Geneva for the solution of the Cyprus problem, the Conference of the All-Cyprus Trade Union Forum convened at Ledra Palace on Monday 9th January, sending out a positive message to the leaders of both communities to complete the procedure and arrive at a positive conclusion.

The trade union organizations participating in the All-Cyprus Trade Union Forum, namely PEO, SEK, PASYDY, POED, OELMEK, OLTEK PES, POAS, DEOK, ETYK, TURK-SEN, DEV-IS, KTAMS, KTOS, KTOEOS, KOOPSEN, BES and BASIN SEN, reiterated their positions for single labour relations, insurance and health system, for a unified economy and for the prohibition of all forms of discrimination in a reunited Cyprus.

During the Session the representatives of the organizations participating in the All-Cyprus Trade Union Forum expressed their positions and engaged in a rich discussion. After completing its deliberations, the session adopted a joint declaration.

Taking the floor on behalf of the Pancyprian Federation of Labour (PEO) General Secretary Pambis Kyritsis welcomed the holding of the Forum at a time that is considered extremely important. “The All-Cyprus Trade Union Forum has been active for decades with visions expressing the working class of our country and it would be absurd for it at this particular moment when the ongoing process in Geneva which we hope brings important developments on the Cyprus problem, to remain inactive and not express its own firm and clear position. The Working Class is the force representing the opposing pole to nationalism and intolerance, “said the General Secretary of PEO, stressing that both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots workers are conveying a message of unity.

“Nothing separates and divides the working people, on the contrary they have everything to gain. The common class and social interests of working people will be realized if and when our country is reunited and the preconditions for Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots to wage new common struggles for a better life. Of course, we know the problems and we do not seek to replace neither the negotiation procedure, nor the negotiators. What we must do is to work hard for the creation of the suitable preconditions among the people and workers so that we can make our own contribution through our stance to encourage and support the efforts underway for a positive outcome of the negotiation procedure, “said the General Secretary of PEO. Pambis Kyritsis pointed out that the trade union movement has an obligation to intervene in society, asserting a single labour relations, insurance and health system, for a single economy and the prohibition of all forms of discrimination in a reunited Cyprus. “We demand a future that opens up avenues for the genuine interests of working people, for our country and people, for us and the future generations. That is why we believe that the session of the All-Cyprus Trade Union Forum is making an important contribution to the negotiation procedure for the solution of the Cyprus problem, “he added.

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PEO bulletin PEO GENERAL COUNCIL: THE STRUGGLE TO RESTORE WORKERS’ RIGHTS CONTINUES

The General Council of PEO convened on 28th November 2016 and assessed the results of the campaign for the renewal of the collective agreements which expired at the end of 2015 – beginning of 2016. The General Council decided PEO’s policy on trade union and social demands for 2017.

According to PEO’s figures, in 2016 147 Collective Agreements were renewed affecting over 54,000 workers. Among them, two big national Collective Agreements in the Building and Hotel Industry.

Based on the information submitted by the Trade Unions of PEO, 131 Collective Agreements have been renewed so far, applying to more than 25,000 workers. In 76 of the Agreements renewed, full or partial restoration of wages and other benefits were achieved, while another large number of contracts, that had been frozen without reductions, were renewed unchanged. There were also cases where contracts have been renewed with increases being granted. A number of Contracts between them and the nationwide contract in the Construction Industry are still pending The General Council of PEO calls on working people to militantly rally their forces with the goal of restoring labour rights, a just social policy, growth to be shared fairly and the creation of quality jobs.

According to the decision approved by the General Council, PEO in the period ahead will prioritize the renewal of collective agreements. Figures suggest that the Trade Unions of PEO with regards the renewal of Agreements, successfully implemented the policy approved at the Extraordinary Congress of PEO which took place on 1st December 2015, according to which the objective was the gradual restoration of terms of employment that had changed for the worse as a result of the special agreements concluded, particularly after March 2013.

Furthermore, emphasis will be put on asserting the necessary institutional measures to strengthen the application of collective agreements, the continuation of the struggle to prevent both privatizations and the selling off of public wealth and property, the fight to reclaim social rights that had been abolished, with special attention to be focused on pensioners and the vulnerable groups of the population.

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PEO bulletin 2016 REPORT ON THE ECONOMY AND EMPLOYMENT OF THE CYPRUS LABOUR INSTITUTE (INEK – PEO)

The 2016 Report on the Economy and Employment of the Cyprus Labour Institute (INEK – PEO) was presented on 9th December at the PEO Conference Hall. The Report of INEK-PEO was presented by the Scientific Collaborator of INEK PEO Elias Ioakimoglou. The Director of INEK PEO Pavlos Kalosinatos welcomed all to the presentation, while the opening of the event was made the General Secretary of PEO and Chairman of the Board of INEK PEO Pambis Kyritsis.

The General Secretary of PEO and INEK-PEO President Pambis Kyritsis, in his opening speech to the event referred, inter alia, to the Report’s conclusions: “According to the government’s main approach, the economy’s performances are perceived not as a means of promoting people’s prosperity, but autonomously and with disregard for the results and impact on the various social classes.

However, it is people who have needs and should prosper and not the economy. The analysis of the Report’s data and numbers unfortunately illustrate clearly that the policies that are being implemented are vicious anti-social recipes. The burden of the impact of the capitalist crisis and economic downturn is being loaded on the backs of the working people and the weaker strata of society. The restoration of the capitalist cycle in the phase of stabilization and development is based solely on the decline in wages, the dramatic growth and expansion of social inequality and the curbing of labour and social rights,” he said.

Continuing his speech, the General Secretary of PEO referred to the struggles that PEO is waging to restore the wages and benefits of working people and the social rights of vulnerable groups of the population.

In his welcome to the event the Director of INEK-PEO Pavlos Kalosinatos outlining the identity of the Report stated that, “The Annual Report on Economy and Employment for 2016 unlike other financial review reports, stands out because it focuses its analysis on economic parameters and indicators that reveal the working people’s situation and conditions of employment, social cohesion and progress, while it also puts forth proposals for their improvement.”

The scientific collaborator the of Cyprus Labour Institute of INEK-PEO Elias Ioakimoglou described the outlook of the labour market in Cyprus as not promising at all during the duration of the presentation of the 2016 Report, given that he said that the growth rate is around 2%.

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PEO bulletin According to the Report’s data Mr. Ioakimoglou said Cyprus’ capacities emerge as significantly weaker as a result of the three-year recession.

Ioakimoglou also noted that the unused production material will be exhausted at the latest by 2018.

There will be pressures that will drive prices again to go up. The trade balance will show deficits, thus the government will need to take corrective action.

Furthermore, he said that in Cyprus we had deep recession in the period 2012-2014, while during the first quarter of 2015, production increased slightly. However, he added that the end of the economic crisis has not been reached because a number of structural problems remain that must be solved in order to bring about a long-term perspective for growth

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PEO bulletin THE 17TH CONGRESS OF THE WORLD FEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS (WFTU) CONCLUDED ON SATURDAY 8TH OCTOBER 2016 IN DURBAN SOUTH AFRICA

The Congress, hosted by the COSATU (Congress of South African Trade Union), was held under the slogan “Struggle - Internationalism - Unity” with the participation of 1,500 delegates from 111 countries, representing 92 million WFTU members throughout the world.

The delegates, in a climate of dynamism and militancy, discussed the international situation today, the problems facing workers around the world, assessed the actions of the WFTU during the five years that have elapsed and set out the Federation’s goals for the period 2016- 2020.

PEO participated in the Conference with its General Secretary and one of WFTU’s Vice-Presidents Pambis Kyritsis, the General Secretary of SYXKA-PEO and member of WFTU’s Audit Committee Lefteris Georgiades, the General Secretary of the Construction Workers’ Union and General Secretary of WFTU’s International Union of Construction Workers Michalis Papanikolaou and the Secretary of the International Relations and Head of the European Regional Office of WFTU Pieris Pieri.

Apart from PEO the Turkish Cypriot Trade Unions DEV-IS, KTAMS, KTOS and KOOP-SEN, who are affiliated members of the WFTU, also participated in the joint delegation representing Cyprus at the Congress.

On Friday 7th October elections were held for the election of the President, Chairman and Audit Committee of the WFTU. The Congress re-elected to the position of the General Secretary of the WFTU Georgos Mavrikos and elected new President of the Federation Michael Mzwandile from ΝΕΗΑWU South Africa.

The General Secretary of PEO was reelected Vice-President of the Presidential Council (WFTU) and the General Secretary of PEO SYXKA Lefteris Georgiades was elected member of the WFTU Control Commission. On the same day a symbolic event was organized with the raising of WFTU’s flag by Eric Mitsali, historical militant of the WFTU and COSATU, outside the Congress center, where the 17th Congress took place.

The Congress concluded with the unanimous approval of the Report and Plan of Action of the WFTU setting out WFTU’s goals and objectives for the next five years 2016-2020, aiming at the further strengthening the class-orientated trade union movement of the WFTU, the defense of workers’ rights and for a world without exploitation and social injustice.

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PEO bulletin On Saturday 8th October, after the conclusion of the Congress a demonstration was organized with the participation of the delegates and thousands of workers to a stadium, where 30 years ago the decision was taken to establish the host organization COSATU. The General Secretary of WFTU unveiled a monument dedicated to the founding of the Organization.

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PEO bulletin PEO WORKING WOMEN OFFICE CAMPAIGN TO SUPPORT WORKING FAMILIES BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT The PEO Working Women Office held on Monday 21st November 2016 an event on “The role of local government in promoting policies to support working families”. It was attended by representatives of the Trade Unions and Employers Organizations, as well as government bodies. The opening of the event was made by the Secretary of the Central Working Women’s Office of PEO Marina Koukou. The General Secretary of PEO Pambis Kyritsis addressed the event too. The introductory speech was delivered by the Deputy General Secretary of PEO Sotiroula Charalambous, while the Secretary of the SKE Sectorial Workers Committee of PASEY-PEO Andreas Kounnis WHO made a presentation of a relevant study.

It is worth noting that the PEO Working Women’s Office not only organized this event, but campaigned throughout Cyprus on the need for local government to provide support to working families in order to highlight the issue of the lack of infrastructures and support programs As highlighted in the event, for PEO the provision of support to working families is of primary importance, especially to women as fundamental pillars for the emancipation of women, the participation of women in all areas of life and equality in employment. PEO demands and asserts from the state and local governments that they take responsibility for providing services and support programs for working families, by enhancing social policy which should promote prosperity, social cohesion and the fair redistribution of national wealth.

Pancyprian Federation Of Labour Archermou 29 1045 Nicosia Cyprus P.O. Box 21885 tel : 22866400 fax : 22866512 e - mail : info@peo.org.cy

www.peo.org.cy 8

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