CNV

The annual meeting of the Pancyprian Federation of Independent Trade Unions was held on Saturday 20 March 2010, at Nicosia Cyprus. The meeting was attended by 100 delegates representing the 10 member unions of the Federation.

The Executive Secretary of WOW, Mr. Bjørn van Heusden, attended and addressed the meeting on behalf of  Mr. Roel Rotshuizen (President of the World Organization of Workers – WOW) and Mr. Günther Trausznitz (President of the European Organization of the World Organization of Workers – EO/WOW). He expressed his pleasure to address the POAS meeting and wished  POAS, which is a strong affiliated member of the WOW,  all the best in all its activities for the benefit of its members and for the Cypriot society.

He also commented on the proposed change in the Cyprus Union law by which the minimum number of eligible members required to form a union, is proposed to be raised to 100 from 20 which it is now. WOW takes the view that workers should enjoy freedom of association in order to be able to optimally protect the workers’ interests as solidarity-based community. In this respect workers should have the possibility, both national and worldwide, to freely choose their trade union organization. This is in accordance with the ILO conventions. In the case the proposed law passes this will have great effects on smaller unions as well as on initiatives to create new unions. WOW supports POAS’ actions against the implementation of the new law.

The WOW Executive Secretary also honoured Mr. Kyriakos Nathanael for his long service to POAS and unionism in general in Cyprus. Mr. Nathanael was one of the founders of POAS 50 years ago and he did so in order to make things a little bit better for workers in Cyprus. His determination and willpower has made POAS into what it is now. And even now, after offering 50 years of his life to POAS, Mr. Nathanael is still involved with the same enthusiasm and determination as when he first started working in the trade union movement. The history of POAS is the history of Mr. Nathanael. Mr. Bjørn van Heusden thanked him for all the work he has done for POAS, for Cyprus, but also on international level.

(for pictures click here)