**NICOSIA, CYPRUS** – A palpable sense of disquiet has permeated the ranks of the Cypriot police force following the Police Chief's recent pronouncements on impending modifications to officers' working hours and annual leave entitlements. In a joint declaration issued on Tuesday, two prominent police unions, Pasydy and the Police Association, voiced significant objections, asserting that these proposed alterations were unilaterally unveiled, thereby constituting a substantial infringement upon established labour protocols and prior agreements.
The controversy unfurled in the wake of extensive departmental tours undertaken by the Minister of Justice and Public Order, Konstantinos Fytiris, on Monday. During these visits, which included stops at police departments in Famagusta and Larnaca, as well as the Police Air Operations Unit, Mr. Fytiris engaged directly with officers to glean firsthand insights into their operational challenges and solicit their perspectives on enhancing public safety. This initiative, intended to foster a more robust and responsive law enforcement apparatus, appears to have inadvertently ignited a firestorm of discontent from the very personnel the Minister aims to support.
At the heart of the unions' consternation lie the specific details of the proposed changes. Sources indicate that the adjustments encompass significant modifications to daily work schedules, coupled with a drastic reduction in annual leave days, purportedly from 19.5 days to a mere 4.7 days. This stands in stark contrast to a 2019 decision that saw working hours for administrative staff reduced from 40 to 37.5 hours per week, and a 2017 agreement that stipulated a gradual three-year alignment of police working hours with those of the broader public service. The unions perceive the current proposals as a retrograde step, undermining decades of negotiated improvements in work-life balance.
A spokesperson for Pasydy and the Police Association articulated their collective sentiment, stating they experienced profound "discomfort and indignation" at the Police Chief's public dissemination of these proposed changes. They contend that such significant alterations should have been subject to thorough consultation and negotiation with union representatives, rather than being presented as a fait accompli. The unions have issued a stern warning: proceeding with these decisions without their consent would represent a grave violation of labour institutions and could irrevocably fracture the trust between police management and union leadership, thereby precipitating a detrimental impact on industrial relations within the force.
Meanwhile, Minister Fytiris has underscored the imperative of public security, stating, "Citizens demand security, and we are taking that seriously." His departmental visits are part of a strategic endeavour to cultivate a more visible police presence across the island. This strategy includes an intensification of patrols, more targeted checks, and proactive preventive operations in areas identified as high-risk. The Minister's overarching objective is to rebuild confidence in law enforcement and to ensure that the public feels adequately safeguarded. However, the current labour dispute presents a significant hurdle to achieving this goal seamlessly, highlighting the delicate equilibrium required between operational efficiency and the welfare of the officers tasked with maintaining order. The coming weeks are likely to be critical in determining whether a compromise can be reached, or if this disagreement will escalate into a more protracted industrial conflict.