As long as DISY is in government it will not stop trampling on working people’s rights

 

Statement by AKEL C.C. Spokesperson Giorgos Koukoumas

18 October 2022, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia

Nicos Anastasiades referred the legislation {to the Supreme Court] passed by Parliament, a legislative proposal that was submitted by AKEL, seeking to safeguard the rights of contract teachers. In other words, as if the fact that the DISY party has for years refused to regulate the rights of these teachers who perform the same work and duties as permanent teachers wasn’t enough, it is once again ignoring the position of the majority of Parliament and is clashing with it.

The government is appealing to the Supreme Court at a time when it refuses to comply with two Court decisions that vindicated another group of teachers, namely teachers in evening and full-day programmes, whom the government ruling forces had forced into the purchase of services system, thus by doing so slashing their incomes and rights.

Neither legislation, nor Court decisions, nor justice, nor common sense are respected by DISY when it comes to dismantling labour relations, THE rights and dignity of teachers and all working people. The responsibilities of the two candidates both from the ruling DISY party – Averof Neophytou and Nikos Christodoulides – who have faithfully served this government and this policy for ten years, which indeed they want to continue, are self-evident. As long as DISY is in government, it will not stop trampling on the rights of our country’s working people.

AKEL calls on all political forces of our country to reject Anastasiades’ referral of the relevant legislation [approved by Parliament] and calls on all presidential candidates to take a stand on the matter.