The Mayor of the Nicosia Turkish Municipality (NTM) Cemal Bulutoğluları indicated that the strike decision of the Municipal Labour Union (BES) brings into question that it is a political move. Bulutoğluları denoted that he found the strike decision of BES meaningless, in this period in which 13th salaries, december salaries, family supports have been paid on time.

Reminding that the impact of the worldwide economic crisis is growing every day, Bulutoğluları denoted that the unemployment is increasing and money doesn’t grow on trees. Bulutoğluları stated that they are paying salaries 4.500-5.000 TL, over 1.000 TL family supports and 13th salaries without deduction and he added that everyone should stick to their jobs. Bulutoğluları said that they established a Collective Labor Agreement Committee to create the cadre of the workers and he reminded that they agreed with the Union about this issue.

Bulutoğluları said “religion is half a heart” and stated that the strike is an attempt to destroy the peace of mind at the Municipality and blamed the union to create unrest. Bulutoğluları mentioned the problem about the temporary laborers and denoted that he has been trying to prevent the job loss of the personnel and everyone including the temporary laborers know this. Bulutoğluları highlighted that according to the “Collective Labor Agreement” every person who worked for 12 months has a right to get the 13th salary. Bulutoğluları made a call to his personnel about the strike decision which was made as a threat and asked every personnel including the temporary laborers to get back on their duties and not to follow the decision of the union.