Hourly-paid public sector workers will stage a new 24-hour nationwide strike on 17 September 2026 after unions rejected the government's proposal for the renewal of their collective agreement.
The decision was taken by the governing bodies of the unions representing hourly-paid government employees and school board workers, including PASYEK-PEO, OEKDY-SEK and DEEK KDOK DEOK.
The unions met on Wednesday to assess the government's proposal for the renewal of the collective agreement covering the 2025-2027 period and to determine their next course of action.
Unions reject proposal
According to Stavros Andreou, General Secretary for Government Workers at PEO (PASYEK), the proposal fails to address the difficult financial circumstances faced by many lower-paid employees.
He said the current pay scales and earnings of hourly-paid public sector workers remain at very low levels, limiting workers' ability to maintain a decent standard of living and support their families.
Mr Andreou argued that the proposal does not create conditions for adequate wages or dignified starting salaries.
Pay concerns
The unions said newly recruited workers can receive net monthly pay of just €867, while some employees earn around €1,171 net per month after 10 years of service.
They also highlighted the situation of workers in high-risk roles, saying some employees who place themselves in danger to protect the public receive a starting net salary of approximately €1,183 per month.
The unions insisted that hourly-paid government workers should not be treated as second-class employees.
Strike action
The three organisations unanimously rejected the proposed collective agreement and decided to continue the campaign they began on 24 June, when workers held a nationwide strike and demonstration outside the Presidential Palace.
As a result, all employees covered by the agreement will be called on to participate in a 24-hour nationwide strike on 17 September.
The unions described the action as a last-resort response to what they characterised as an inadequate government proposal that fails to meet the scale of the challenges faced by hourly-paid workers.
