CAIR stewards declare strike

Cyprus Airways stewards union, SYPKA ordered its members to go on an indefinite strike from Monday 4.00pm after the airline proceeded with the forced redundancies of 22 chief stewards as part of its efforts to cut costs.

CAIR management declared the 22 positions as surplus with its press spokesman, Tassos Angeli saying the layoffs will save the airline some CYP 200.000 in cost savings.

The stewards union however, described the management action as an attempt to force the union to resort to strike action. The Secretary General of SYNIKA-SEK, Costas Demetriou described management action as reminding of the late Romanian dictator days when one side would dictate its terms, and others would follow.

The pilots meanwhile, were reported to be backing the stewards and may also join in the strike.