BULLETIN PEO NOVEMBER 2019

B LLETIN

PEO

NOVEMBER 2019

GENERAL COUNCIL OF PEO MEETING ON 31/10/2019

CONTENTS

In its meeting dated 31/10/2019, the General Council of PEO assessed the results of the negotiations for the collective agreements which expired at Page : 1 the end of 2018 and at the beginning of 2019. It also decided on the deGeneral Council of PEO Meeting on mands policy for the upcoming collective agreements, while also discuss31/10/2019 ing the general social demands to be made by the Federation.

Page : 3 1st Social Alliance Conference “Housing for All”: The solution of the Housing Problem in Cyprus is a social demand Page : 4 The signing of the Collective Agreement for workers in the construction sector a historic moment Page : 5 3rd October: International Day of Action of the World Federation of Trade Unions - Struggle against racism, xenophobia and fascism Page : 6 Enlarged Session of the Executive Committee of the Trade Unions International of Construction, Wood, Building Materials and Industries

In 2019, a total of 162 collective agreements covering 74523 workers were up for renewal. So far, 77 collective agreements covering 49.256 workers have been renewed. In approximately 60% of them, there is an increase in salaries, while in the rest there is a restitution of salaries and other benefits.

At the end of the year 2019, beginning of 2020, 151 collective agreements covering almost 27000 workers, will be up for renewal.

The General Council believes that the agreements reached in the building and hotel industries, are especially positive, since the introduction of legislation in these collective agreements make basic clauses compulsory for all the employers in these sectors.

Targeting a fairer distribution of the produced wealth, the General Council has also decided that the renewal of collective agreements will aim at achieving general increases in wages that will improve the position of the workers. Particular attention will be paid to minimum hiring wages, so that they can be adjusted according to the general increases in wages which will be achieved.

Page : 8 PEO and Turkish Cypriot trade union affiliates of WFTU co-organised a An important issue which we will face in 2020, is the Automatic Wage Insymbolic football match for peace dexing (ATI). At the expiry of the transitional ATI agreement, PEO is dePage : 9 manding the reinstatement of ATI, so that the market value of wages based Solidarity with the working people of on the indexing movement, can be fully restored.

Syria Page : 10 Language is an integration means for the migrants in the society Page : 12 Another successful PEO Children’s camp

Concerning the issue of the minimum wage, the General Council reaffirms the position of PEO that, given the present circumstances, the legal safeguarding of minimum rights for all employees is essential. The minimum wage for those sectors covered by collective agreements, must be the one set out in these agreements. Where there is no agreed minimum wage, a legislative mechanism must be put in place, through which minimum wages and basic conditions of employment can be discussed and agreed.

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PEO bulletin Additionally, the General Council of PEO disagrees with the government’s intention to privatise public organisations that have proven to be competitive and at the same time generate public revenue.

The General Council’s meeting also dealt with the broader social and economic issues the workers are facing and decided to demand measures that will support low-wage earners, young couples, students, and other vulnerable population groups, in obtaining decent affordable housing. It will also demand the improvement of allowances and other social benefits for low-income pensioners, children, single parents, students etc.

The General Council positively assesses PEO’s actions, noting that the renewal of the collective agreements is the result of the workers’ determination, unity and militancy. Rallying around the trade union movement, organisation and participation, are prerequisites for the continuing struggle for reduced inequalities, for work with social welfare rights and for the improvement of the position of workers.

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PEO bulletin 1ST SOCIAL ALLIANCE CONFERENCE “HOUSING FOR ALL”: THE SOLUTION OF THE HOUSING PROBLEM IN CYPRUS IS A SOCIAL DEMAND

The elaboration of a comprehensive social housing policy is an urgent need for the solution of the housing problem that is proving to be one of the most important issues people are facing today.

On Saturday, 5th October the Congress of the Social Alliance “Housing for All” was held at the PEO Conference Hall in Nicosia. The Congress has highlighted the numerous social dimensions of the housing problem in Cyprus.

The positions and proposals put submitted by the Alliance’s Organizations were codified in a Memorandum delivered to a representative of the Minister of the Interior. After the congress, delegates marched from Freedom Square to the Ministry of Interior.

Representatives from PEO, EDON, EKA and POGO, as well as other organizations representing farmers, students, consumers and immigrants, participated in the congress.

In his address, the General Secretary of PEO Pambis Kyritsis pointed out that the Social Alliance “Housing for All” with many social groups, young people, students, single parent families, families with three children, farmers and Minimum Guaranteed Income recipients among its ranks, have already tabled in public its own proposals on every aspect of the housing problem. These proposals will be transformed into assertions for all those who are fighting against social inequality and the dismantling of the welfare state.

The GS of PEO added that the conference and the subsequent march in the streets of Nicosia send the message to the state and society that “we are not prepared to remain silent in the face of major social deadlocks on the housing issue and that we will seek to enforce the right of every citizen to have a dignified home is respected so that the right to housing becomes a right and not a privilege for the few”.

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PEO bulletin THE SIGNING OF THE COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT FOR WORKERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR A HISTORIC MOMENT

Following lengthy negotiations, the new Collective Agreement regarding the construction sector for the period 2019-2021 was signed on 26th September 2019.

The Collective Agreement covers about 30,000 workers in the construction industry and according to the agreement reached between workers and the employers, the safeguarding through legislation of four key articles of the Collective Agreement was accepted. More specifically, working hours and overtime, holidays, the Providence Fund and gratuity were accepted.

In his statements, the General Secretary of the PEO Construction Workers Union Michalis Papanikolaou described the day of the signing of the agreement as historic, while noting that all that has been agreed are “theoretical”.

“What we need to do is to put into practice what has been agreed, for the benefit of workers and the construction industry in general,” he said.

As he stressed, this agreement is an important tool for workers, which by itself cannot solve the many and serious problems that workers face.

“We must use this tool in the right direction in order to organize as many workers as possible in the ranks of the trade union movement so that we can wage our daily struggles from a stronger position,” said the General Secretary of the PEO Construction Workers Union.

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PEO bulletin 3RD OCTOBER: INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ACTION OF THE WORLD FEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS - STRUGGLE AGAINST RACISM, XENOPHOBIA AND FASCISM The World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) has established 3rd October as the International Day of Action of Working People.

This year the global mobilization of the WFTU member organizations was dedicated to the struggle against racism, xenophobia and fascism. In a joint statement they issued, the WFTU member organizations in Cyprus (PEO, DEV-IS, KTAMS, KTOS, KTOEOS, BES, KOOP-SEN and DAU-SEN) reiterate that the class-orientated Cypriot Trade Union Movement will not compromise with partition and that its unwavering goal is the achievement of the solution of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with a united state, with a single sovereignty, a single international sovereignty, a single citizenship with political equality.

“As a class-based Trade Union Movement, Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot workers join their voice with the voice of working people all over the world and we express our solidarity with refugees and immigrants and assure them that we will continue to fight for their right to a dignified life and work”, the Organizations noted, underlining that they will continue to struggle against fascism and nationalism which divide working people; continue to fight against racism and xenophobia, for a peaceful world without wars, discriminations and exploitation

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As the Declaration approved points out, our homeland which has suffered war and disaster is yet another victim of imperialism’s plans, nationalism and chauvinism. It further notes that “it is clear that the Cyprus problem is in a barren and dangerous stalemate and the danger of our country’s definitive partition is now dramatically enhanced. Today, we once again call on the leaders of the two communities to rise to the occasion and with willingness and determination continue the talks from the point where they had remained, safeguarding the convergences that have been recorded so far and on the basis of the Framework put forth by the UN Secretary General Mr. Guterres.”

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Concerning the prevailing situation in the world, the Declaration states that humanity is experiencing a period of heightened aggression on the part of imperialism, with the US and their allies intervening in many countries to impose their geostrategic interests.

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“Imperialist wars, poverty and acute social inequality, climate change and environmental destruction are forcing millions of our people to leave their countries uprooted as refugees and seek a better life elsewhere.

Many of them, in their attempts to escape war and misery, become victims of slave labour and drown in the Mediterranean Sea. At the same time, tens of thousands of refugees who manage to save their lives by going to European countries are confronted with European Union’s policies,” the declaration notes.

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The General Secretary of PE0 went on to denounce that, “the EU bears enormous responsibilities because at the same time as it sheds hypocritical tears about refugees drowning in the Mediterranean sea, it is taking part in waging imperialist wars and promoting policies that do not address the refugee issue, but instead create deadlocks for many refugees. We call on the European Union to act decisively to combat the root causes of the refugee and immigration issue, to terminate the imperialist wars, to fight poverty and social inequality and curb the actions of multinational corporations The consequences of the imposition of vicious neoliberal austerity policies, in conjunction with the ongoing interventions and wars, have brought terrible results for the peoples and workers. These developments favour the creation of the social conditions for the growth of neo-fascist forces that, though portraying themselves as anti-systemic, prop up the capitalist system and its policies, promote hate speech and xenophobia against refugees and immigrants, and support imperialist wars. The cultivation of hatred and xenophobia against refugees and immigrants divides working people and enables capital to intensify the exploitation of working people.”

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PEO bulletin PENSIONERS IN CYPRUS NEVER STOP STRUGGLING CONGRESS CONFIRMS BACKS STRUGGLE TO SOLVE PENSIONER’S ACUTE PROBLEMS On the occasion of 1st October, International Day of Pensioners, the International Union of Pensioners of the WFTU announced a day of action.

EKYSY PEO, responding to the International’s call, held on September 26th a Congress attended by the retired toilers of labour members of EKYSY. The Congress took place in a militant spirit at the PEO conference hall in Nicosia with the PEO GS Pampis Kyritsis and EKYSY GS Costas Skarparis as the keynote speakers.

The Congress dealt with the serious problems faced by pensioners and took important decisions to resolve them.

The GS of PEO and WFTU Vice-President of PDO Pambis Kiritsis saluted the Congress as an active and substantive contribution by ECYSY to the global mobilization of pensioners on the occasion of October 1st, established as World Day of Action for the Rights of the Elderly.

“Our Movement is proud to have EKYSY in its ranks, which has demonstrated through its action, that it is a genuine expression of pensioners’ interests and rights. It is a recognised social organization that is entitled to be respected not only by those it represents and for whom it struggles, but also by the state and society at large. Certain forces and circles may of course be annoyed because it is constantly asserting, mobilizing, projecting demands and struggling”, he said. He also stressed that it is the duty of PEO and EKYSY to put pressure, assert and struggle because the elderly have given so much to this society and they deserve much more than they enjoy today.

The GS of PEO subsequently referred to the socio-economic conditions in which the Trade Union Movement of PEO is currently developing its struggles and reiterated that its primary objective is the reunification of Cyprus and its people.

The GS of EKYSY Costas Skarparis thanked the pensioners and congratulated them for continuing their struggles to improve their standard of living, for a better quality of life and dignity.

He then reviewed EKYSY’s activity and set out the Organization’s goals to improve pensioner’s standard and quality of life with dignity.

K. Skarparis assured that EKYSY will continue to be at the forefront of the struggle for the return and restoration of pensioners’ rights to the point they were before March 2013 and the arbitrary decisions 6

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and neoliberal policies imposed by the N. Anastasiades government. As he characteristically stated, “it is very provocative for older people that certain forces are celebrating that the economy is supposedly living better, while pensioners, for example, are suffering or waiting for years on waiting lists for an exam or surgery”.

The congress began with the screening of a 10-minute film about the EKYSY’s struggles in the fiveyear period 2013-2018 which was accompanied by poems read by veteran members of EKYSY Trade Union. A message was also read by Quim Boix, General Secretary of the International Union of Pensioners (WFTU).

After the keynote speeches, the Congress adopted a Memorandum addressed to the Minister of Labour, to the President of the Republic and members of the Parliamentary Committee on Labour Issues.

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PEO bulletin PEO AND TURKISH CYPRIOT TRADE UNION AFFILIATES OF WFTU COORGANISED A SYMBOLIC FOOTBALL MATCH FOR PEACE

A symbolic football match at the BITK College Stadium in occupied Nicosia was organized on 3rd September by PEO and the Turkish Cypriot Trade Unions DEV-IS, KTAMS, KTOS, KTOEOS, BES, DAUSEN and KOOPSEN. The match that took place under the slogan “Peace in the World - Peace in Cyprus - PEACE FOR HUMANITY - PEACE FOR CYPRUS” was dedicated to the 1st September, which was established by the World Trade Union Federation (WFTU) as the International Trade Union Day of Action for World Peace.

PEO and the Turkish Trade Unions reiterated once again that the solution to the Cyprus problem remains a priority and an urgent need. They called on both leaders of the two communities to rise to the occasion and willingly and with determination to continue the talks from the point where they had remained safeguarding the convergences recorded so far and on the basis of the Framework of the UN Secretary General Mr. Guterres.

For the record, the friendly football match was held with mixed teams made up of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot trade unionists.

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PEO bulletin SOLIDARITY WITH THE WORKING PEOPLE OF SYRIA

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13th September 2019 An International Solidarity Forum with the Syrian people and workers, organized by the Workers’ Federation of Syria in cooperation with the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) and the International Confederation of Arab Trade Unions, took place on 8 and 9th September in Damascus.

The Forum was attended by over 200 representatives of Trade Unions and Social Organizations from around the world.

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The delegation from Cyprus included the Secretary of the International Relations Bureau of PEO Pieris Pieris and the General Secretary of the Trades Union International of Workers in the Building, Wood, Building Materials and Allied Industries UITBB Michalis Papanikolaou who conveyed their solidarity to the Syrian working people and their struggle to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria and the right of the Syrian people to determine their own future without any imperialist interventions.

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PEO bulletin LANGUAGE IS AN INTEGRATION MEANS FOR THE MIGRANTS IN THE SOCIETY

“Teaching the Greek language to migrants is not just a means to be more easily integrated in the labour market but this is a means to be integrated more quickly in the society itself. This is about understanding their political rights, their ability to claim rights and come in contact with the authorities and the institutions.

This is of course also for their ability to approach culturally our society and be integrated”, as PEO SG and INEK President, Pambis Kyritsis stated at the Press Conference held by INEK-PEO for the presentation of the project “Greek Language Courses for Third Country Nationals (adults)” on 7 May. The conference was held at the presence of the Minister of Interior, Constantinos Petrides.

The Director General of INEK PEO, Pavlos Kalosynatos presented the most significant aspects of the program. As he said, Cyprus Labour Institute (INEK-PEO), in collaboration with the University of Cyprus and funded by the Fund for Asylum, Migration and Integration (90%) and the Republic of Cyprus (10%) started the project “Greek Language Courses for Third World Nationals (adults)”.

The Authority responsible for the Fund for Asylum, Migration and Integration in Cyprus is the Unit of European Funds of the Ministry of Interior, representatives of which are also with us, as well as of course the competent Minister of Interior Mr. Costas Petrides. The project is about the organization of programs of teaching Greek to adults of third world nationals. (TWN). The courses are integrated within the framework of a wider attempt of improving the communication skills of TWN through the development of basic skills in the Greek language with an emphasis on the simple oral and written communication, in order to facilitate their integrational procedure in the Cyprus’ society and prevent their social exclusion.

In other words, the beneficiaries are expected, after completing this project, to acquire skills in the Greek language that will help them in finding a work position, in improving their accommodation and living conditions, in the communication fluency with the authorities and organizations of the Republic of Cyprus and in general with their colleagues at the workplace or other people in their social environment.

The target group of the Third World Nationals that are entitled to participate in the activities of the project include: a) people under the refugee status or subsidiary protection status, b) people who have applied for refugee or subsidiary protection status, c) people enjoying temporary protection, and d) people living and/ or legally working in Cyprus.

The courses will be offered free of charge to all districts of free Cyprus. A total of 470 people will participate all over Cyprus (urban and rural areas), as well as courses will be offered at the Kofinou Reception and Accommodation Center for Applications for International Protection.

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PEO bulletin Beneficiaries will also be offered educational material and stationery for free, as well as the right to participate in supplementary educational activities, as for example, visit to archaeological sites or trips to various places in Cyprus.

The organizations for effectuating the project have the ability to offer courses in 4 levels with a minimum duration of 100 teaching hours: 1. A1 (duration of 100 teaching hours), where people with no or minimum knowledge of Greek. 2. A2 (duration of 120 teaching hours), where people with A1 level knowledge can attend (or they have completed A1). 3. A2+ (duration of 100 teaching hours), which will be operating preparatory lessons for the next level. 4. B1 (duration of 150 teaching hours), which will be offered to those who have completed the previous levels and/or to people with enough knowledge in Greek, probably students that have attended similar programs in the past.

The courses will be taught by about 30 qualified teachers, that the collaborating organization are now trying to select.

The fact that the target group is composed by adults of different cultural and language traditions, imposes for the teachers to have adapted teaching skills. For this reason, a series of educational seminars of total duration of 18-20 teaching hours will be offered. The training and educational activities will focus on the following issues: a) intercultural education and teaching adults, b) teaching Greek as a foreign language, c)planning and organization of the Greek language lesson, d) adaptation of the course to the needs and the characteristics of students, e) teaching grammar, f) comparison of common Greek with the Cypriot language (in their daily use) and g) phonology and teaching of the phonological system.

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The Cyprus Labour Institute – PEO and the University of Cyprus decided to claim the undertaking of the effectuation of this project first and foremost because they agree with their aims. Leaning the Greek language is a basic prerequisite of integration and improvement of the conditions and the terms of socialization of these people that are here for various reasons and live and work among us. Now that we are looking for beneficiaries to participate in the lessons, we have realized that the interest of these people to learning Greek is great; to do what is necessary for them to be integrated in the Cypriot society.

Also, the collaboration between INEK-PEO and the University of Cyprus is based on the principle of complementarity: INEK-PEO is an institution that has been collecting lots of experience in the last years in providing training programs all over Cyprus, it has the skill of programming, management and administrative support of European programs, while the University of Cyprus has scientific staff, such as the Deputy Professor Mrs. Marianna Katsoyiannou, who has experience in designing programs of learning Greek as a foreign language, as well as the scientific originality in designing the content of Greek language courses for foreigners (teaching methodology, analytical programs, scientific guidance and support of teachers, evaluation procedures etc).

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PEO bulletin ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL PEO CHILDREN’S CAMP

The Children’s Camp in Pervolia organized by PEO Working Youth Section ended successfully this year too.

The camp’s programme of activities began on June 27th ending on July 12th over three periods. More than 600 children from families of working people, unemployed and immigrants enjoyed their vacations. More specifically, the first period accommodated children aged 8-11 years and the last two hosted children between 12-14 years old.

The Children’s Camp of PEO Working Youth Section, which began operating in 1970, is another significant service PEO offers to workers and is improving every year, offering more services and activities to participants.

All the children returned to their homes from the camp excited with the activities and program. We point out that the camp also hosted children of Turkish Cypriot workers, a delegation from Greece and children from Palestine and Syria, as well as immigrants living in Cyprus.

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

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