Strikers Protest Outside Military Bases in Cyprus 18.02.14
10Locally employed staff at British Forces Cyprus have been on strike today in a protest against austerity measures.
Staff staged a walk out this morning setting up picket lines outside the island's bases. They are unhappy at cost-cutting measures introduced last month.
The 24 walk out only lasted only six hours outside RAF Akrotiri and SBA police were at the scene as the road to the air base turned into a car park, with personnel and contractors blocked getting onto camp.
Operations on camp were not affected and for most personnel it was business as usual, with may people heading into work early ahead of the picket line.
The Pan Cyprian Federation of Labour and the Cyprus Workers Confederation are two unions backing strike action. They say one thousand workers have been affected by cost-cutting plans and they've not been consulted.
British Forces Cyprus says it had to re-examine the financial package given to staff because of economic conditions in the UK and Cyprus and that they remain compliant with the Treaty of Establishment.
They say they have tried to hold discussions with unions but the union representatives did not show up for talks.
Yesterday mediation meetings were held at the Ministry of Labour but it was not enough to stop today's walk out.