Four Electricity Authority of Cyprus unions have suspended the industrial measures planned for Thursday, 9 July, following talks at the Presidential Palace on Tuesday afternoon.
The decision gives the government and the unions a further 15 days to discuss concerns over electricity costs and the risk of insufficient power generation capacity.
Further talks scheduled for 22 July
The meeting was attended by Energy Minister Michalis Damianou, Deputy Minister to the President Irene Piki and EAC Board Chairman Giorgos Petrou.
EPOPAI President Kyriakos Tafounas told the Cyprus News Agency that the unions had outlined the issues concerning them and agreed to allow time for further consultations with the relevant ministries.
The two sides are due to meet again on 22 July. The unions will then decide on their next steps based on the outcome of the discussions.
Unions say key issues remain unresolved
Dimitris Konstantinou, secretary of SIDIKEK-EAC, told Politis that “not everything has been resolved”, although he described the meeting as constructive.
He said Piki and Damianou had undertaken to contact all relevant bodies over the matters raised by the unions.
Konstantinou said the unions’ objective was to ensure that Cypriot consumers could access affordable energy. He also warned that Cyprus could face serious electricity supply problems unless the responsible authorities take the necessary measures.
“Political will is needed,” he said.
