EAC staff go on 24-hour strike

…as EAC Chairman clashes with MinCom over LNG deal

Efforts to convince the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) staff to refrain from strike action did not succeed, with EAC staff proceeding with their 24-hour strike action for Wednesday in protest against the decision of the government to opt for a floating LNG unit as a stop-gap measure until a permanent LNG storage facility can be constructed inland, which is also the EAC’s preferred choice.

Meanwhile the Chairman of the EAC, Charilaos Stavrakis walked out of a stormy parliamentary session after Commerce Minister Antonis Michaelides unleashed a strong attack against the Board and staff of the EAC for their stance taken on the LNG issue. Michaelides raised the fury of the EAC staff when he described them as “anarchists” and also charged that the Board is constantly changing stance.

Michaelides claims that EAC unions have no right whatsoever in how the LNG is brought to Cyprus and where it is stored, adding that the Attorney General also agrees that this is not a matter for unions to decide.

EAC staff union spokesman Andreas Panorkos countered that they have every right to be involved in such a crucial decision, on which rests the future survival of the EAC. “We apologise to the public for the inconvenience,” he said promising that in case of emergency the staff would be at hand to assist the public.

The EAC position is backed by all the political parties, except the ruling DIKO, which has kept a neutral stance on the matter. The other parties have called on the government to resolve the issue through a dialogue and to change a cabinet decision taken on June 6, 2007 according to which Cyprus will construct an inland LNG storage facilities but in the meantime will also ask for tenders for a floating unit for up to five years.