Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 07-06-08

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] EAC CHAIRMAN - UNIONS 24 HOUR STRIKE

[01] EAC CHAIRMAN - UNIONS 24 HOUR STRIKE

At the same time, the board decided to call on the EACs unions to suspend strike action announced earlier Friday for next week.

In statements to CNA, EAC chairman Charilaos Stavrakis said the board decided to wait for the final document of the Cabinet over the natural gas issue before taking official and final decisions, adding the document should be available by Monday or Tuesday.

Regarding the 24-hour strike announced for next Wednesday by the EAC unions to protest the Cabinet decision on natural gas, Stavrakis said the board is appealing to the unions to suspend their strike action because problems are not solved with strike action but with bona fide discussion with all interested parties.

The EAC unions earlier Friday called for the 24-hour strike to protest against a government decision for an offshore natural gas storage facility they fear would cost jobs.

Union officials said that power supply would remain unaffected as power stations of the state-owned EAC would be manned by a minimum staff and repair crews remain on call.

The EAC unions said that the Cabinet decision to invite tenders for a five-year, privately-run offshore terminal would hand the Cyprus market ``to private interests`` resulting in higher electricity bills and lost EAC jobs.

The Cabinet this week decided to invite tenders for an offshore Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) storage facility with a five-year expiry date until a land-based unit is ready.

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