Common Labour Struggles of Greek and Turkish Cypriots

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The Common Labour Struggles of Greek and Turkish

Cypriots (Events Through History)

By Pantelis Varnava

ISBN 9963-7677-3-7

PANTELIS VARNAVAS

16 Synergasias st

KaimakliNicosia

Tel: 432662

CONTENTS

PROLOGUE

The terrible accident at Skouriotissa mine in 1925

The strike at Skouriotissa mine in 1936 The strike at Mavrovouni mine in 1936

The strike at Limni mine in 1941

The Railway workers strike in 1941

The struggle for Union with Greece makes labour unity difficult Greek and Turkish-Cypriot miners celebrate May day together in 1947

The Co-operation Protocol between PEO and the Turkish-Cypriot Unions in 1948

Greek and Turkish-Cypriots shed their blood together and are thrown into gaol

The strike at the docks in 1952 The earthquake in Paphos in 1953

The contribution of the Turkish-Cypriots in the struggle for social security

Trade Union medical services and the Turkish-Cypriots

The Turkish Bureau of PEO (1953-1958) The Turkish Bulletin of PEO (1954-1958)

The attempt against the life of Ahmet Zati in 1958

Joint statement by the Labour Federations in 1958

The struggles of Greek and Turkish Cypriots at the Government works in 1960 After thetragic events of 1974

EPILOGUE

Table I - The election of Turkish - Cypriot workers to the various union

bodies of PSE-PEO (1933-1958) Table II Greek and Turkish-Cypriots in prison together



Announcements - Appeals

Sources - Literature

Prologue

Turkish-Cypriot workers have always been an integral part of the Cypriot working class.

For scores of years they worked together with the Greeks in mines, ports, packing plants,on the fields, in construction sites, on government and military works, in the public

service, work-shops, factories, and other sectors of the economy. They all lived together

in the same areas, villages and city neighborhoods, and in the settlements around themining areas, particularly Skouriotissa, Mavrovouni and Xeros.

Wherever Greeks and Turks lived and worked together, they had the same problems to

deal with: exhaustingly long working hours; barely subsistence wages; lack of protection

for themselves and their families in case of illness; industrial accidents, unemployment,old age, housing, etc. They all experienced the same suffering and the same need for

decent treatment and protection. It was only to be expected, therefore, that they would

join together in their struggles which usually had the support of their wives and children.

As we will see, Greek and Turkish-Cypriot workers often fought together in an effort tosolve their problems and for the right to join trade unions, and made many sacrifices in

order to achieve a better life for themselves and their families.

We will see that even before the Unions were established, a great deal was done by Greek

and Turkish-Cypriot workers led by strike committees which were elected in joint strikemeetings.

Even after separate Turkish-Cypriot Unions were established in 1944, many Turkish-

Cypriot workers refused to leave the unions to which their Greek-Cypriot fellow workers

belonged, despite the pressures exerted on them by Turkish - Cypriot nationalists and byreactionary circles in general. These workers believed in the principle of healthy trade

unionism which states that those engaged in the same field or occupation, regardless of

race, gender, religion, or nationality should belong to the same Union, so that they arebetter equipped to seek solutions to their problems. For many years they remained in the

same unions, not only as rank-and-file members but also as officials and leaders, and,

together with their Greek-Cypriot colleagues they played an important role in the daily

activities of the Unions. For example, in 1956, despite the bad climate created betweenthe two communities as a result of the struggle for Union with Greece and the armed

EOKA struggle, the increased chauvinism between the two communities which led to the

Greek and Turkish Cypriot killings, and the British policy of divide and rule , PEO

had 2000 Turkish-Cypriot members, a number equal to those belonging to Turkish-Cypriot unions.

These members - and others who joined later - left their unions only when the threats and

pressures from the Turkish chauvinists extended to murder.Once the Turkish-Cypriot Unions and the Turkish-Cypriot Labour Federation wereestablished, close co-operation developed between them and PEO, as indeed between the

Turkish-Cypriot Unions and those not belonging to PEO which had Turkish-Cypriot

members.

As stated above, scores of Turkish-Cypriot workers struggled and made sacrificestogether with their Greek-Cypriot fellow workers. They were forced to leave their jobs

and homes, they were driven away from their villages and towns and blacklisted as



dangerous troublemakers and were often unable to find other work. This was done

mainly by the foreign mining companies. Many were sent to prison for up to two yearsand others were shot by the police (as occurred in the Mavrovouni and Xeros mines in

1948). Both the workers and their families paid a heavy price.

Collections took place which raised thousands of pounds and large quantities of food to

help support the strikers. Mass demonstrations and meetings were held, and petitionswere submitted to the Government by thousands of Greeks and Turks from all over the

island, and both communities were jointly involved in the struggles for a better life.

The information contained in this book (documents, photographs, leaflets etc.) is only a

small part of the material available, but it give a true picture of the common strugglesand the remarkable sense of unity between them as well as the sacrifices made by the

workers in order to secure for the Cypriot working class of today its high living

standards and important economic and social achievements.

The Terrible Accident At Skouriotissa Mine in 1925

In 1925 at the Skouriotissa (Foukassa) mine which was run by the American CYPRUS

MINES CORPORATION, a terrible accident took place with the largest number of casualties ever seen in the history of Cyprus mining.

On the morning of 18th March, eleven miners (eight Turkish-Cypriots and three Greek-

Cypriots) were trapped in the mine shafts when a fall of about twenty thousand tons of

rock and ore blocked the exit. They all met a terrible death by asphyxia, and from theintolerable heat and toxic gases. When their bodies were recovered they were

unrecognizable, and according to Argyros Karapiperis of Flasou and other veteran miners

who were working at the time at Skouriotissa, they were buried together in two common

graves, at the Turkish cemetery of St. George of Solea (near the mine) and at the churchof St. John the Theologian at Katydata.

The scenes of grief and sorrow when the families of the dead gathered outside the mine,

were heart-breaking,The dead were:

Mehmet Halil from Vretsia

Hassan Ramada from Vretsia

Salih Hussein from VretsiaHassan Salih from Malounda

Stylianos Angeli from Petra

Mustapha Hussein from Petra

Ahmet Siah Ali from ArodesEmil Ali Obashi from Tremetousia

George Constantinou from Athienou

Pehattin Niazi from FlasouAndreas Vasiliou refugee

The Strike at the Skouriotissa Mine in 1936

One thousand Greek and Turkish-Cypriot miners were working at the Skouriotissa minein 1936. On the 18th of August a strike was declared, the aim of which was to secure the

payment of wages by the company and not by sub-contractors, that a minimum wage be

fixed at three shillings and payment be made every 15 days.



The strike went on for 32 hours and a strike committee was elected. This was made up of

Thomas Mavrovouniotis, Nicholas Dikomitis, Netziat Moulla Hassan, Panayi Tsanakka,Mustapha Ali and Michael Stylianou. The strike ended after management promised to

meet workers demands.

The workers had yet to be organised into Unions.

The Strike at Mavrovouni Mine in 1936

Over 2000 Greek and Turkish Cypriots were working at the Mavrovouni mine in 1936.

On 31st August a strike broke out as a result of the Company s arbitrary lowering of wages.

A joint meeting was held at which a committee was elected to lead the strike and draw up

the claims to be submitted to the company. The committee was made up of George S.

Kontos (Roosevelt), Spyros Kyriakou, Suleiman Hussein, Costas Sophocleous, HusseinPektsiet, Ali Refik and Loucas Onisiforou.

The workers demanded wage increases, lower working hours, sick pay, and reductions in

the rent paid to the company for the homes in which they lived.

Following the police intervention the strike was put down on the third day and the strikecommittee members were arrested and sent to prison for eight days. About a hundred

Greek and Turkish-Cypriot miners were driven from their jobs, company houses and the

mining area, as they were considered instigators of the strike and dangerous

troublemakers .In this strike, as in others, the miners were not union members, as the Company

threatened with dismissal and exile any worker who showed signs of wishing to join the

union.

The Strike at Limni Mine in 1941

Over two hundred miners from both communities were working at Limni in 1941.

In December of that year they went on strike for an 8 hour day, wage increases andpayment of the lighting facilities (lamps and acetylene) used in the shafts.

The strike went on for 53 days under the guidance of a committee, which should ideally

have also been working to establish a union. The committee members were: JosephChristodoulou (Mavros), Osman Tsiki, Gennadios Georgiou, Athanasis Constantinou,

Salih Halil, Hambis Christodoulou, Seraphim Charalambous, Mehmet Ali Hussein and

Spyros Savva.

Their demands were met following government intervention.

The 1941 Railway Workers Strike

The railway was introduced in Cyprus by the British Government in 1905, and performed

a daily route from Varosi, across Mesaoria to Nicosia and then on through Morphou andSkouriotissa (Foukassa) to Evrychou.

The train carried passengers and goods. Operations ceased in 1951 owing to continued

losses as the Government put it.The railway employed about 240 Greek and Turkish Cypriots and Armenians.

On 1st July 1941 a strike was declared because management refused to meet the

workers demands for wage increases.

When all the management s efforts to divide the workers and turn some of them into



blacklegs failed, the Government declared the Railway a public utility and asked the

strike committee to tell the strikers to return to work without any of their demands beingmet. When the Committee refused, its members together with a few other strikers were

arrested, tried and convicted.

Those convicted were:

Ahmet Mustapha 1 year in prisonZacharias Antoniou

Stephan Karamatian

Ibrahim Mahmout 20 pounds fine or 3 months in prison

George Spyrou Ali Hassan

Toumazos Nicolaou

Sophocles Christodoulou

The strike ended on 11th June 1941 after all demands had been met.The conviction and imprisonment of the railway workers gave rise to a wave of protest

(by Greek and Turkish Cypriots and Armenians), and in December of that year all

prisoners were released.The way in which the demands were put, the conditions in which the strike took place,the unity and determination of the strikers, and the manner in which the strikers dealt

with the attempts of the management and colonial Government to break them up, made

this strike the most important of the time as the union leadership stressed.

The Election of Turkish-Cypriot to Union Bodies

Many Turkish-Cypriot members of PEO unions were elected to various offices by

workers assemblies, meetings and congresses, and were thus in a position, together withtheir Greek-Cypriot brothers, to play an important part in the activities of their union and

of PEO.

Their election to such offices was a mark of recognition for their interest and hard workin their efforts to help solve the problems of the workers, and of the respect felt for them

by members of PEO and its affiliated unions.

The attached list was taken from the annual financial and organisational reports which

were submitted to the Registrar of Unions, the union registers, and the minutes of themeetings, assemblies and congresses of PEO and its unions.

The information in the list is, for various reasons, incomplete, particularly regarding the

pre-1950 period. It does, however, show the extent of Turkish-Cypriot participation in the

various guiding bodies of PEO and their part in union organisation and problem solving.The list contains the names, offices and other information concerning the Turkish-Cypriot

workers elected to the General Council and Sectoral Councils of PEO, the Boards and

District Committees and Union Branch Committees.It does not include the large numbers who belonged to factory, workshop or other localcommittees (on building sites, at ports, packing plants, mines, clothing and footwear

factories, garages, government and military works, transport, agriculture and elsewhere)

as it has been impossible to locate them by name.

Many of the Turkish-Cypriots on the list had been elected to offices on more than oneoccasion, and certain names appear twice as they had been elected to more than one

office.



As can be seen, of the 158 Turkish-Cypriot officers, 82 were under the age of 30 and 35

were under 25. The same age distribution must have also existed among the rank and file.This indicates that the young Turkish-Cypriot workers could see the importance of union

membership for all workers in a particular trade, regardless of nationality, creed,

language, race and gender, and that they believed that belonging to a single union better

served the interests of Turkish, Greek and other workers.The list shows that many Turkish-Cypriots belonged to the General Council and to the

Sectoral Councils of PEO, many were members of the Boards and District Councils of

the Unions, and many were Secretaries, Treasurers and Collectors of dues of the Union

Branches.The names, addresses, ages, year of election and offices appear on Table 1 (p.43).

The Struggle for Union With Greece Makes Labour Unity Difficult

The level of unity and co-operation between Greek and Turkish-Cypriot workers which

manifested itself in a very real and organised way through their joint union activities, and

contributed greatly to the struggles of the working class, received a severe blow in 1944-

45 as a result of the Greek-Cypriot struggle for Union with Greece, or Enosis as it wasknown.

At the end of World War II, the Greeks of Cyprus and the Unionist Movement,

intensified their struggles for the implementation of the right to self-determination

which Britain and the other allies had declared to be among the objects of the war. ForCyprus, this right meant union with Greece.

In August 1944, the visit to Cyprus of British Colonial Secretary sir Cosmo Parkinson

triggered serious uprisings and demands for the implementation of those declarations.

The extent to which unity and co-operation between the Greek and Turkish workers of Cyprus was damaged is evident in the situation created in the Footwear Workers Union in

Nicosia in which many Turkish-Cypriots were employed.

A clear picture of the situation is given by the Cyprus Clothing and Footwear WorkersUnion itself in a book published in 1971 on its 40th anniversary. An announcement dated

13.10.1944 (p.27 of the book) states the following:

It has already become known that following the latest national demonstration by our

unions regarding our national issue on the occasion of the visit of Sir Cosmo Parkinson,our Turkish colleagues have left the unions in order to establish Turkish Trade Unions.

Our Union which includes about 120 Turkish workers, has repeatedly convened general

meetings at which it was stressed that such an action by our Turkish brothers would be

detrimental to both them and all who work in this field .- The Union went on to say:

Despite the Union s efforts to persuade our Turkish Brothers to return, several years

passed before they did so. Their return greatly assisted our struggles to serve the commoninterests of all the workers in our field .The events which occurred in the footwear workers union were repeated in all fields

which employed Turkish-Cypriots and all Unions with Turkish-Cypriot members. A few

more examples follow.

At the end of 1945 when the leadership of the PEO Union of workers at the AmericanMining Company met at Lefka with leaders of the Turkish-Cypriot Union in order to

discuss the miners demands to the company, the Turkish-Cypriot leadership made it a



condition for discussion of union demands that the PEO union leadership reject union

with Greece.The union refused and the meeting was adjourned. It took a great deal of effort to

overcome the danger of a split amongst the miners. An important factor in the success of

this effort was the great delicacy displayed by the PEO miners Union in its policy

towards Enosis, since after all, almost half the two thousand miners were Turkish-Cypriots.

The meeting with the Turkish-Cypriot Union Committee took place at Lefka at Tzioronis

Coffee Shop. The PEO members present were Pantelis Varnavas, acting as Union

Secretary, Avraam Christou, Christos Morfitis, Irfan Suleiman and Yusuf Mustapha.In late January 1948 the Miners Unions (PEO and the T/C Union) held a regional rally at

Lefka. In addition to the miners the rally was attended by many other inhabitants of the

Lefka, Solea and Marathasa regions, who wished to hear about the progress of the great

miners strike which had begun on 13th January.The rally was addressed by the Secretaries of both Miners Unions, Pantelis Varnavas and

Mehmet Halil, Andreas Ziartides Sec. Gen. of PEO, Aziz Doudjai, Sec. Gen. of the

Turkish-Cypriot Unions, and Turkish-Cypriot leader Fadil Cucuk who had been invited atthe suggestion of the Turkish-Cypriot Union.Cucuk spoke of the conference convened around that time by the British Government to

discuss the granting of some form of constitution to Cyprus. This had not been attended

by the Ethnarchy which represented the right wing, as they refused to discuss anything

other than Enosis.In his speech Cucuk stated very forcefully that the Turkish-Cypriots had no wish for self-

government as this would lead to Union with Greece.

This speech increased the risk of a split among the miners and it took a great deal of serious effort to dispel the danger. The factors which contributed to success in

overcoming the danger of a split included the great care displayed by the PEO miners

union and the leadership of the Turkish-Cypriot Union, the serious economic and socialproblems faced by both Greek and Turkish miners, the great respect of the T/C miners forthe PEO Union leadership, and the friendly, not to say fraternal relations between the

Greek and Turkish miners which had sprung from the serious problems both communities

had been facing for years.

Greek and Turkish-Cypriots Celebrate May Day Together

The first of May 1947 was approaching and preparations had begun to make that year s

celebrations the biggest and best ever.In the Lefka-Mavrovouni-Xeros area, the councils of both the PEO and T/C, miners

Unions held a joint meeting in which they decided to celebrate May Day by abstaining

from work. The decision was approved unanimously by the joint meetings of miners.The Company s reaction was immediate. Without waiting for official notice from theUnions, it circulated an announcement warning all workers that unless they appeared at

work in sufficient numbers on 1st May, the mines would close for three days!

Not only did these threats not intimidate the miners, they actually fired their rage and

indignation. An explosive situation ensued, the Councils met once again and jointmeetings were held. The workers resolve was unanimous: May Day would be

celebrated by all miners throughout the day.



On the first of May, not a single one of the two thousand miners went to work; the

meetings organised at Union premises and the marches which followed wereunprecedented and very moving. All Greek and Turkish-Cypriot miners took part with

their wives and children. More Turkish-Cypriots took part at the Mavrovouni-Lefka

rallies as there were about 700 Turkish-Cypriots employed at that mine.

The Xeros march set fourth from the miners settlement at Mavrovouni, proceeded alongthe main streets of Lefka, made a stop at the Government Building where a joint

delegation of miners handed a petition regarding the problems of miners to the District

Officer, and finished up at the Union premises at Mavrovouni.

The rallies and Marches which followed were unprecedented. It was the first and onlytime in the history of the labour and trade union movement of Cyprus that a May Day

celebration was organised by Greek and Turkish-Cypriot Unions, with the participation

of their women and children, and under such severe threats from the employers.

The Company remained loyal to its hostility towards the workers and carried out itsthreat. It closed down for three days to make the workers aware as the manager Mr

Hendricks, so provocatively and arrogantly stated - of their responsibilities and the

error of their ways!This act by the Company increased awareness and union membership and forged a senseof unity between the miners and their families. This was confirmed by the four month

long strike which ensued in 1948, in which the unity, heroism, discipline and self-

sacrifice of the miners (Greeks and Turks alike) and their families wrote one of the

greatest chapters in the history of the labour movement.

The Co-operation Protocol Between PEO and the Turkish Cypriot

Unions in 1948

The establishment of the Turkish-Cypriot Unions in Cyprus and their need to co-operate

in order to better serve the interests of the working class of Cyprus, led to the signing of

a Co-operation Protocol between PEO and the Central Committee of the Turkish-Cypriot Unions.

The Protocol was signed on 8th January 1948 by Andreas Ziartides, Sec. Gen. of PEO

and Aziz Doudjai, Sec. Gen. of the C.C. of the Turkish-Cypriot Union following onemonth s negotiations, and is one of the most historically important documents of both

the Cypriot working class and its trade union moment and Cyprus in general.

The Protocol facilitated contact and co-operation between the two Labour Federations

and their Unions, and made it much easier to organise and lead strikes and other action atmines and ports, in transport, government and military works, in the clothing and

footwear industry, in bakeries, on construction sites and elsewhere, and led to many

successes for Greek and Turkish Cypriot workers.

Owing to the importance of the Protocol as a historic document, it is quoted in full:The Pancyprian Workers Federation (PEO) and the C.C. of the Turkish Unions of

Cyprus (KTIBK) have agreed:

1. To demonstrate their sincere desire to create relations of close co-operation and mutualassistance in their action for the economic and social welfare of the working class. To

demonstrate their firm belief that without unity among the workers and their unions, the

struggle for improved living standards is much more difficult.

2. (a) To set up joint Greek and Turkish Union committees in the occupations where there



are currently two unions, one under PEO and one under KTIBK. These committees will

act as a means to promote the spirit of co-operation and unity between Greek and Turkishworkers.

These committees will undertake the following:

I. To study the labour problems of their field and prepare solutions to such problems

through common actions.II. To study the labour disputes involving Greek and Turkish workers and decide upon

the line to be followed in order to solve them.

III. To study the labour disputes involving either only Greek or only Turkish workers

and organise moral and material support for the struggle.(b) The joint committees shall be made up of equal numbers of Greeks and Turks and

their decisions shall be valid if approved by the majority of both Greek and Turkish

members.

(c) These committees shall in no way affect the independence and sovereignty of theunions. The unions are free to decide whether or not to accept the decisions of the joint

committees, but both contracting parties declare that their decisions will always be

guided by the desire to protect and promote workers rights.3. To set up mixed Greek-Turkish-Cypriot district Union Committees made up of equalnumbers of Greeks and Turks. The aims of these committees will be:

I. To look into issues concerning all the workers of the district.

II. To look into labour disputes which are referred to these committees.

III. To look into disputes between the Unions and try to settle them in the interests of theworkers and the unity of the labour movement.

4. To set up a Pancyprian Greek-Turkish Commission for Labour Unity whose aims will

be:I. To look into the problems of Cypriot workers and work towards their solution through

common struggles.

II. To look into disputes between the Unions and try to settle them in the interest of theworkers and the unity of the labour movement.III. To work towards the forging of closer links between the Greek and Turkish

communities on the island.

5. To denounce the propaganda of one side against the other as destructive and contrary

to the true interests of the working class. This does not mean that constructive criticismmade in good faith is condemned.

6. To denounce racial hatred and discrimination, whatever the source, as a weapon in the

hands of the exploiters in their efforts to split the working class and keep it in conditions

of economic exploitation and social oppression.7. To draw up regulations providing for the following:

(a) The recruitment of workers employed in fields which are covered by two unions, oneaffiliated to PEO and the other to KTIBK.

(b) To organise workers expelled from other unions.(c) To organise workers who previously belonged to other Unions.

(e) To settle disputes between Unions.

(e) To look into any other issue arising from joint actions.

8. To convene joint general meetings of Greek and Turkish workers in all Cypriots townswith a view to underlining the importance of union membership and unity and co-



working conditions at the docks and putting an end to the medieval regime of the

hamalpashi (the head porter who oppressed and humiliated the dockers and theirfamilies.

The Earthquake in Paphos in 1953

The common struggles of the Greeks and Turks of Cyprus were not limited to economicand labour problems, but extended to the broader social and political issues of the time.

One of many examples which could be cited is the earthquake in Paphos on 10th

September 1953 which devastated Ktima and scores of villages throughout the district.The earthquake caused the death of 40 men, women, old people and children and injured

over a hundred. Of the 40 dead 13 were Turkish-Cypriots, as was a large number of the

wounded.

Hundreds of Greek and Turkish-Cypriot homes were ruined and many more wereseriously damaged; in some villages the churches collapsed. In Stroumbi, a village of 800

inhabitants, 150 of the 200 homes suffered irreparable damage.

The furniture, bedding, clothes, cooking utensils and other belongings of thousands of

people were lost in the rubble.As the Press said: the tragedy of the earthquake victims is indescribable; Ktima looks

like a ghost town, and its panic-stricken inhabitants are sleeping in the open air

(Eleftheria, 10.9.1953)

The government s efforts to make good the enormous damage caused by the earthquakewere assisted by the political parties, NGOs, the Church, the various institutions, and

almost the entire Greek and Turkish-Cypriot population. The meeting held in Paphos at

the time in an effort to tackle the problems of the earthquake victims, was attended by

Greek and Turkish men and women, priests and imams.Hundreds of workers from all over Cyprus worked hard on a voluntary basis, in response

to appeals from PEO and superhuman efforts were made to recover property of

earthquake victims from the ruins, to pull down the houses which were in danger of collapse, and to clear the streets.

Thousands of Greek and Turkish individuals, institutions, enterprises and international

organisations contributed to the emergency relief fund. The International Trade Union

Federation (ITUF) contributed £500.

The Contribution of Turkish-Cypriots to the Struggle for Social

Security

The Turkish-Cypriot workers participated actively in the struggles of the Cypriot working

class and its trade union movement for State Social Security. Those who belonged to the

same unions as their Greek-Cypriot brothers joined with then in the strikes, rallies,

meetings, pickets and other activities which took place in order to push for social securitylegislation.

Even those Turkish-Cypriots who belonged to separate unions, played an important part

in the fight for social insurance.One of the many events which were organised was the Pancyprian Conference which the

Turkish-Cypriot Unions held on 21st March 1954 and whose sole agenda was the Social

Security Law. The conference was held at the Belik Pasha cinema in Nicosia and wasattended by 250 Turkish-Cypriot male and female delegates from all the towns and from



24 Turkish-Cypriot villages.

The speakers were Ahmet Zati, Secretary of the PEO Turkish Bureau, Kiamil Daout,Secretary of the Famagusta Turkish-Cypriot Unions, and other delegates.

Ahmet Zati said: The unemployed are increasing in numbers, old people, widows and

orphans are left unprotected. There is no provision for maternity. All of us, Greeks and

Turks, must be protected by a comprehensive Social Security system, which must beundertaken by the Government .

Boyam Nezire, a female delegate, stated:

Every day in their homes, women experience the tragedy caused by lack of protection

when their men fall or lose their jobs. The problem becomes even greater when the menare injured and unable to work. This is why we want social security .

The conference approved a memorandum to the Government asking for a comprehensive

Social Security System, and a committee was elected to discuss the issue with the

Government. The Committee was made up of Ahmet Zati and Kiamil Dudjel for Nicosia,Kiamil Daout and Hussein Mehmet for Famagusta, Hassal Ostoun, Suleiman Salih and

Feriha D. Pinai for Larnaca, Shefik Sherif for Limassol and Izet Emil Ali for Paphos.

Trade Union Medical Centres and the Turkish-Cypriots

The Turkish-Cypriots played an important role in the struggles of PEO and its Unions

for the establishment of union medical centres, which began operations in 1947, and for

union pharmacies which still provide very important services to thousands of Greek andTurkish-Cypriots and their dependants and which gave significant support to the struggle

for Social Insurance.

Some examples follow:

In the strike of the thousand building workers of Nicosia in 1947 which went on for 57days, many of the strikers were Turkish-Cypriot. The strike forced the building

contractors to contribute 6 piastres a week for each worker to the trade union medical

centre fund.Many Turkish-Cypriots were among the workers who gave their services free of charge

in 1952-53 in order to construct the building which was to house the PEO union medical

centre. The premises are a few metres to the northwest of Pallouriotissa Gymnasium and

is now in the Turkish occupied area).The doctors who provided their services for next to nothing to the medical centre

included the Turkish-Cypriots. Atnan Haki and Zia Haki.

The Turkish Bureau of PEO (1953-1958)

All the Turkish-Cypriot members of PEO spoke and understood Greek. This made

contact, discussions and information much easier. When it came to serious issues and on

other occasions when it was needed, those who spoke Greek best made speeches andpublished leaflets in Turkish.

As PEO increased its presence among the Turkish-Cypriots, it was considered necessary

to establish a Turkish Bureau in order to improve the work done. The Bureau was

established in 1954 and its members were Ahmet Zati (head), Ferit Urai, Kiamil Dunziel,Houlouz Chiaglar, Kiamil Sukri, Mehmet Ali Ramada, Resvan Mustafa, Hassan Ibrahim,

Mustafa Ali, Ali Mehmet, Ali Hassan, and Tilaver Nasir. Others also worked for the

Bureau from time to time.



Famagusta 120 200 156

Limassol 115 147 250

Larnaca 130 140 250

Paphos 58 70 50

TOTAL 763 907 1071

The Turkish Bulletin greatly enhanced contact with Turkish-Cypriot workers and otheremployees, and kept them up to date on the policies and activities of PEO and its Unions

on labour issues, as well as on issues of relations and co-operation between Greek and

Turkish workers and their unions.

The Bulletin s life ended in 1958 with the intercommunal troubles and the closure of theTurkish Bureau.

The Attempt on the Life of Ahmet Zati The important work performed by the Turkish Bureau of PEO particularly in the

preservation and development of good relations been Greek and Turkish workers and

against the chauvinist propaganda and policies of those who sought to harm Cyprus, was

unpopular among the reactionary circles of Turkish-Cypriot chauvinists. One result of this ill-feeling was the attempt on the life of Ahmet Zati, head of the Turkish Bureau on

22.5.1958 at Omorphita.

On 23.5.1958, the voice of PEO Workers Forum , wrote in an article entitled

Chauvinists shoot Ahmet Zati and his wife :Attacks against the Old Unions continue and are now aimed at Turkish Members of

PEO. Chauvinists who are trying to destroy the fraternal co-operation between Turks and

Greeks which has evolved over recent years as a result of the labour policies of PEO,

yesterday shot and wounded Ahmet Zati, head of the Turkish Bureau of PEO and hiswife.

As we have been informed, the incident took place in the following circumstances.

Ahmet Zati s house in Omorphita was being watched all last Wednesday night byunknown men. After midnight they were noticed by residents and told to leave.

Yesterday, at about 7.45am, as comrade Zati his wife were setting out for Nicosia, they

were intercepted by two armed youths in civilian clothes without masks. When comrade

Sati became aware of the gunmen s intentions he attempted to return to his home.However, the gunmen opened fire, injuring comrade Zati in the back and his wife in the

arm and chest. They were taken to Nicosia General Hospital. They are both out of danger,

but Mrs Zati s condition is serious .

Ahmet Zati had left his home that day to meet Pantelis Varnava, Pambos Efstratiou,Christofis Lasetta and Kyriacos Pavlou who all worked with him at PEO and be driven

by them to the offices of PEO.

Zati s wife Leman came out of the house with him, and as soon as she realized what wasgoing on she rushed forward and shielded him with her body. This resulted in injuriesmuch more serious thanthose of her husband.

It is difficult to find words to describe the courageous, heroic and moving actions of

Leman Zati who saved her husband s life by offering herself as a human shield with no

thought for the risk she herself was running from the killers bullets.The attempt by the Turkish terrorist organisation T.M.T. to Kill Ahmet Zati was not the

only one. Similar attempts were made against many Turkish-Cypriots, trade unionists and



others. The dead include the trade union leader Dervish Ali Kavazoglou, a warm

supporter and champion of peaceful co-existence between Greeks and Turks, who wasassassinated together with Costas Mishiaoulis on 11.4.1964 as the two men were

travelling from Nicosia to Larnaca.

Joint Statement by the Labour Federations in 1958 The increased tension between the two communities and the extremely dangerous

situation which had resulted from the actions of the chauvinists and the assassinations,

led the trade unions to organize a Pancyprian Conference of Trade Union Organisations(Greek and Turkish-Cypriot) to discuss the situation and decide on action to be taken by

the Cypriot working class in order to resolve the situation.

The conference took place on 13.8.1958 at the Majestic Hotel in Nicosia. Regarding the

organisations which participated in the conference and its results, the WorkersForum , the voice of PEO published the following on 15.8.1958.

A conference held two days ago at the Hotel Majestic in Nicosia among delegates of

the four Union Federations (PEO, SEK, POAS and TEO) discussed at length the issue of

peaceful relations and solidarity between Greek and Turkish workers .After the meeting the following announcement was published:

Representatives of over 60,000 organised Cypriot workers - Andreas Ziartides and

Michalakis Michaelides on behalf of PEO, Loukis Efstathiades and George Georkas on

behalf of SEK, Niaz Tagli, Mustafa Emin, O. Arif from the Turkish Labour Federation,and Andreas Christou and Kyriacos Nathaniel on behalf of POAS, met under the

chairmanship of Mr Zev Levin, from the International Federation of Free Labour Unions,

to discuss ways and means to aid co-operation between workers of the two communities.

The meeting took place at the Hotel Majestic in Nicosia in the presence of British TradeUnion Consultant Mr. T. Fallows.

It was agreed unanimously that the intercommunal tensions of the last ten weeks were

detrimental to the interests of the workers of both communities as a whole. All UnionFederations, alone and in co-operation, must do all that is in their power to restore

stability and peaceful relations in the population.

The meeting unanimously called upon the workers of Cyprus to avoid provocations and

any pathetic attempts to renew intercommunal tension and hostility.Following an in-depth and sincere discussion, the meeting elected two joint committees

to deal with cases involving the interests of workers of the two communities .

The above declaration was signed by A. Ziartides, G. Giorkeas, N. Tagli, A Christou, and

the Chair of the Meeting Z. Levin.When asked by a journalist whether the announcement was approved by the leaders of

EOKA and TMT (the Turkish terrorist organisation), Mr Ziartides replied that this is a

trade union action.In response to a question from a Turkish-Cypriot reporter about what will happen if thepolitical organisations do not agree, comrade L. Efstathiades stated that these

organisations should not become involved.

The Struggles of Greek and Turkish-Cypriots in Government and

Military Works in 1960



Six to eight thousand workers were employed at Government and military works in the

1950s. A large number of these were Turkish - Cypriots. All belonged to one of thefollowing unions: PEO, SEK and the Turkish Union

The three Unions worked very well together in their efforts to tackle labour issues, but

this good spirit was greatly affected by the tensions of the struggle for independence and

inter-communal strife.Co-operation among the three unions was restored in 1959-1963 and many joint strikes

and other action took place.

The three unions worked together at each step of their actions through joint committees,

meetings and speakers, joint delegations at negotiations with Government and militaryrepresentatives, joint pickets and strikes.

The officials of the three unions developed feelings of friendship and trust and this

greatly enhanced unity, common actions, and better results.

The most important joint events organised by the unions and the Greeks and Turksemployed at the government and military works took place in 1960.

Unemployment at that time had risen dramatically. On the pretext of insufficient funds,

the various Government Departments (Public Works, Water Development Department,and others) dismissed half of their six thousand employees. This led to times of stress,hunger and misery for these workers and their families.

At the time Cyprus was still ruled by the British Colonial Government. It was not until a

few months later that the Republic of Cyprus was established.

In order to tackle these issues, joint strikes, meetings, demonstrations and pickets wereorganised, demanding the commencement of development works in order to combat

unemployment.

One of the major actions was the 24 hour strike at the Government works, with theparticipation of over five thousand Greek and Turkish - Cypriot workers.

The four Labour Federations (PEO - SEK - POAS - Turkish Federation) issued a joint

statement on 12th May 1960 following a meeting at PEO headquarters. The statementcongratulated the government workers and their unions for their unity in the struggle andfor the strike on 4 and 11 May. It noted the dangers of a continuation and expansion of

the strike among government workers, and declared a general nation-wide 24 hour protest

strike should dismissals of workers continue and no measures be taken to secure work

for the unemployed...The statement was signed by Andreas Ziartides (PEO), Michalakis Pissas (SEK),

Andreas Christou (POAS) and Niazi Taskin (Turkish Labour Federation).

The strike took place and was supported by POVEK (shop owners association) and

PEEA (drivers association) which included Greek and Turkish members.

After the Tragic Events of 1974 The terrible events of 1974, caused by the fascist coup of the Athens Junta and theiragents in Cyprus, and the Turkish invasion which followed, thrust Cyprus and its people

(Greeks, Turks and other communities) into a great tragedy. There were thousands of

dead and missing, tens of thousands of refugees, a large part of Cyprus was occupied by

Turkish troops, tens of thousands of Turkish settlers were transported to Cyprus fromTurkey, the economy and the living standards of Cypriots suffered greatly - particularly

of Turkish-Cypriots - enormous funds were spent on defence, and the danger of



permanent partition is still very real. These are the grave aspects of the great tragedy of

Cyprus and its people.This terrible situation which has been going on for so many years, and the need to find a

just solution which will be acceptable to both communities was, naturally enough, a

matter which seriously concerned the Greek and Turkish-Cypriot trade union

organizations, all of which made great efforts, through appeals in the press and media,contacts, meetings, etc., to prevent or limit the friction instigated by the colonial

government, Turkey and the USA and which was affecting the two communities.

Since 1974 many contacts have taken place on a formal and informal basis, between

representatives of Greek and Turkish trade unions at the Philoxenia and Ledra PalaceHotels and in other government-controlled and occupied parts of Cyprus.

A few examples are cited below:

On 18th October 1978 the International Trade Union Federation (ITUF) held a special

meeting at the Philoxenia Hotel, the sole topic of which was the Cyprus problem. PEOwas represented by Andreas Ziartides, Sec. Gen, of the Executive Bureau, and the

Turkish - Cypriots were represented by Hassan Sarija, chairman of DEV-15.

Other participants included the head of the International Section of MATEM-IS fromTurkey (Metal - Workers Union), N. Firus, and representatives of the Builders Federationand the Textile Workers Federation of Greece.

A resolution approved unanimously by the special Synod expressed the complete

support and solidarity of ITUF for the struggle of the people of Cyprus for independence,

territorial integrity and sovereignty .Support was also expressed for the consistent efforts to do away with chauvinist

prejudice by both Greeks and Turks in Cyprus, as well as the conviction that a pre-

condition for a peaceful and democratic solution of the Cyprus problem is fraternal co-operation among the working people. The resolution also called for the convening of an

International Conference on Cyprus within the U.N.

In parallel with the resolution of the special synod of ITUF, the representatives of theGreek and Turkish Trade Union organisations, and those from Greece and Turkey whohad attended the Synod, issued a joint statement on 21 October 1978, published in

Haravgi newspaper and others which included the following points:

We consider our participation at this Synod and the joint meetings which followed as an

important and historic step towards the development of co-operation and solidarity for aspeedy, peaceful, just and democratic solution of the Cyprus problem on the basis of the

resolutions of the Special Synod of the ITUF Bureau. We will do all that is in our power

to promote and enforce this resolution......

Taking into account the fact that the Cyprus problem is a real danger to peace in theEastern Mediterranean and the Middle East and the continued conspiracies by

imperialists and reactionaries against the interests of the peoples of the worlds, wedeclare our resolve to reinforce our efforts to achieve co-operation among the workers of

Cyprus, Greece and Turkey for national independence, peace, democracy and socialprogress in the region.

We warmly appeal to the workers of the whole of Cyprus, Greece and Turkey to put

aside all obstacles and to work together in the struggle for permanent peace, democracy

and independence for their countries and the region as a wholeThe statement was signed by:



The Pancyprian Labour Federation (PEO)

The Revolutionary Turkish - Cypriot Trade Union Federation (DEV-IS)The Greek Federation of Builders and allied trades

The Union of Turkish Metal workers (Disk and MATEM - IS)

The Greek Textile Workers Federation, and

The Union of Workers in the Turkish Defence Industry DISK-ASTER-ISThe crowning glory of the efforts of the trade union organisations of both communities to

contribute to a solutions to the Cyprus problem was the Pancyprian Trade Union Forum

which took place in January 1995.

The Forum was the result of efforts by PEO, SEK, PASYDY, TURKSEN, DEVIS, andKTAMS, and was attended by 126 trade unions from the above organisations and ETYK,

POED, OELMEK, OLTEK, POAS, DEOK, KOOPSEN, KTOOLOA, KTOEOS and

MPES.

Proceedings went on for three days (two in government - controlled areas and one in theoccupied parts) and the unanimous declaration stated:

A solution to the Cyprus problem must be based on a federal democratic system, on the

Summit Agreements and UN Resolutions, and guarantees of human and trade unionrights as these are defined in the conventions of the ILO and other InternationalOrganisations. In order to achieve the above in the Federal State of the future, the

following are needed: a Social Security System, equal pay, no discrimnation in

employment and remuneration as a result of ethnic origin, religion, colour and gender, the

right of free moment and work in any part of Cyprus .The Trade Union Organisations also undertook to contribute and support the

reconciliation process until such a time as a just solution is found to the Cyprus issue .

Contacts between Greek and Turkish - Cypriot Unions continue in an effort to find aviable solution to the Cyprus problem

Epilogue

I considered it very important to undertake this study, as it was a way to bring together a

great deal of serious and often unknown information and facts which bear witness to the

deeply rooted and peaceful coexistence between the Greeks and Turks of Cyprus. It ishoped that this document will play a part in preserving these facts and events, and that it

will provide useful information to those interested in the important issue of coexistence

of the two communities in Cyprus.

As we have seen, since the early decades of the 20th Century when the working classmade its presence more strongly felt in various sectors of our economy, Greeks and

Turkey have worked and fought together in an effort to solve their problems. The 1920s,

1930s 1940s and 1950s were filled with such struggles and examples of great personalsacrifice.It is important to mention that these were not the only struggles of the Greek and Turkish

working class. There are many other examples of struggles by farmers, workers in

cottage industries and other areas where Turkish - Cypriots were employed. In fact the

common struggles of Greeks and Turks began long before the Cyprus working class andits trade union movement were created.

The scores of instances which could be mentioned include the rallies organised by rural



Greeks and Turks. One of these took place in February 1910 at Lefka. It was attended by

Greek and Turkish. Cypriots from Solea, Marathasa and Tylliria. The rally was addressedby the members of the House for Nicosia, Th. Thodotou and Skefkis Beis and a

resolution was approved asking the Government to abolish unfair and odious taxation .

This document mentions only a small part of the struggles of the working class and its

trade union organisations, in an effort to fill any gaps in others studies and to assist futurewriters on the subject.

As we have seen, the harmonious relations enjoyed for so many centuries by the two

communities, and the common struggles fought within the labour movement, were

greatly affected by outside interference, Turkey s expansionist policy, and bychauvinists within both communities. The tragic events which began in the mid 1950s are

not at all unrelated to the above causes.

The workers of Cyprus have for years now been enjoying conditions incomparably better

that those prior to 1940, and the high standard of living ensures a more human and decentlife.

This great change is the result of the long hard struggles of the working class and its

unions, and the contribution of the Turkish - Cypriots was always great and oftendecisive.For many years, with only a few exceptions as a result of the current situation, Turkish-

Cypriots are no longer able to work together with Greek-Cypriots, and cannot enjoy the

same benefits as their Greek brothers. This has resulted in a lowering of their living

conditions.This is a great injustice towards the Turkish-Cypriot working people and is directly

linked to the Cyprus problem which it is hoped will one day be settled in accordance with

the resolutions and decisions of the UN and the Summit Agreements.In this study, reference is made to the names of many Greeks and Turks who participated

actively in many labour struggles. Most are no longer alive.

This roll call is a kind of tribute to all these men and women and their contribution to thefight for the rights of the working class. The tribute includes all those workers whosenames are not cited in this documents, but who fought and made sacrifices for the

interests of the working class.

It is believed that the vivid and historic events which describe the joint struggles and

sacrifices of Greek and Turkish-Cypriot workers, will give the people of Cyprus someimportant and useful messages.

First, that common problems unite workers in their struggles regardless of ethnic origin,

creed, race or gender, and that the working people must work together despite all the

obstacles and difficulties they may encounter, and no matter what sacrifices may berequired.

Secondly, that Greeks and Turks living in Cyprus will one day be in position to resumetheir joint struggles to solve the problems of the working class, and

Thirdly, that life over the decades has demonstrated to all Greek and Turkish - Cypriotswho truly care for their country, that if the future of Cyprus and its people is to be safe,

stable, happy and peaceful must be based on coexistence and the development of peaceful

and harmonious relations between the Greek and Turkish communities.

TABLE I



THE ELECTION OF TURKISH-CYPRIOT WORKERS TO THE VARIOUS UNION

BODIES OF PSE-PEO IN 1933-1958Organisation/Name Address Age Year of election Office

PEO and Councils

Mehmet Emin Hilmi Nicosia 26 1946 Member General Council PEO

Ahmet Zati Omorphita 41 1952 Mustafa Ali Limassol 39 1955

Ferit Urai Nicosia 25 1955

Resvan Mustafa Famagusta 31 1956

Mehmet Mehmet Famagusta 24 1955 Nourettin Seferoglu Potamia 26 1958

Resvan Mustafa Famagusta 30 1955 Member Famagusta Council

Hassan Ibrahim Famagusta 26 1955

Mehmet Taouxi Limassol 32 1955 Member Limassol CouncilMustafa Ali Limassol 42 1958

Ali Hassan Larnaca 33 1954 Member Larnaca Council

Hussein Shermi Larnaca 31 1958 Mehmet Erai Larnaca 23 1958 Mustafa Puhran Paphos 46 1955 Member Paphos Council

Builders and Carpenters Union

Hilmi Izet Limassol 50 1954 Member Limassol Committee

Pilaver Nazir Ayia Varvara 34 1955 Member Paphos CommitteeMustafa Pehram Paphos 46 1955 Member Paphos Committee

Mustafa Osman Limassol 41 1955 Member Paphos Committee

Yusuf Bekir Lurujina 34 1955 Lurujina Office Builders Union TreasurerOrganisation/Name Address Age Year of election Office

Esat Yusuf Lurujina 25 1955 Lurujina Office Builders Union Treasurer

Bekir Ali Lurujina 34 1955 Collector Lurujina BranchPessim Shefki Mouttayaka 24 1955 Sec. Moutayiaka Builders UnionSalim Miazi 26 1955 Moutayiaka Union Treasurer

Kaimak Mehmet 26 1955 Collector Builders Moutayiaka Union

Omer Mehmet Nicosia 24 1956 Member of Builders Council

Hassan Arif Lurujina 24 1956 Member of Nicosia Builders CommitteeTalaver Nasir Ayia Varvara 35 1956

Aziz Hassan Dali 23 1956 Member Dali Builders Union

Osman Rustem Lurujina 27 1956 Lurujina Builders Union

Mullis Mulatai Lurujina 61 1956 Usein Koulea 51 1956

Kemal Osman Akaki 28 1956 Member of Akaki Builders UnionSheltzek Hassan Moutayaka 23 1956 Member of Moutayaka Builders Union

Kaimak Mehmet Moutayaka 27 1956 Secretary of Moutayaka Builders UnionTefik Pesim 31 1956 Member Moutayaka Builders Committee

Mehmet Mullaim Nicosia 23 1957 Member Builders Council

Kemal Halil 22 1957 Member

Mehmet Halil Ramada Potamia 23 1957 Ali Mintes Nicosia 22 1957



Kemal Suleiman Lurujina 22 1957 Sec. Lurujina Builders Union

Ismael Ittali Lurujina 44 1957 Member Lurujina Builders UnionYusuf Mulla 39 1957 Member Argaki Builders Union

Ali Mehmet Argaki 39 1957 Member Arabaki Builders Union

Hassal Jemal Argaki 21 1957

Ali Mehmet Moutayaka 32 1957 Sec. Moutayaka Builders UnionPesim Shefki 27 1957 Treasurer Moutayaka Builders Union

Ali Ahmet 40 1957 Member Moutayaka Builders Union

Ismael Istini Tremetousia 28 1957 Member Tremetousia Builders Union

Dervis Masar Pyrga 33 1957 Member Pyrga Builders UnionTahir Kiazim Kouklia 32 1957 Member Kouklia Builders Union

Mehmet Mullaim Nicosia 23 1958 Member Builders Council

Niazi Ismael 28 1958 Member Larnaca

Mehmet Erait Larnaca 22 1958 Member Larnaca Builders UnionAli Ahmet Argaki 40 1958 Member Argaki Builders Union

Hassan Osman Genagra 51 1958 Member Genagra Builders Union

Hassan Ali Strongylo 30 1958 Member Strongylo Builders UnionOmer Ahmet 34 1958 Member Strongylo Builders UnionMehmet Munir Pyrga 47 1958 Member Pyrga Builders Union

Hassan Hassan Timi 23 1958 Member Timi Builders Union

Union of Government and Military WorkersAhmet Zati Omorphita 33 1953 Member of Board of Gov. Mil. Workers

Ali Ozkiour Nicosia 33 1953

Ali Hussein Mandria 35 1953 Member Paphos Gov. Com.Shefket Jemal Arediou 27 1954 Member of Board of Gov. Mil.

Kemal Purudiou Limassol 37 1958 Member Limassol Gov. Com.

Mehmet Ettem K. Polemidia 24 1958 Member Limassol Gov. Com.Atem Sami Kioneli 40 1955 Member Board Gov.-Mil.Hussein Piyial Larnaca 30 1955

Saif Omer Larnaca 30 1955

Mehmet Mustafa Omorphita 29 1955

Suleiman Hassan Larnaca 30 1954 Collector Gov. Mil. Union L/caSatik Omer Omorphita 27 1954 Member Gov. Mil. Union N/sia

Shefket Jemal Arediou 25 1954 Member Board Gov. Mil.

Hussein Elmaz Limassol 51 1954

Union of Clothing and Footwear WorkersHussein Tahir Nicosia 25 1933 Member Union Com. Nicosia

Ahmet Halil Hodjas 25 1935 Ali Mustafa Mavros 25 1936

Mustafa Kemal 27 1937 Galip Mulla Hassan 26 1939

Osman Zekki 25 1940

Jemal Ahmet 26 1941

Kiamil Dudjel 30 1956 Member Board Cloth. and FootwearHoulouz Jaglar 36 1956 Member Nicosia Union Committee



Kiamil Ahmet 25 1956

Abdullah Karatiri Ktema 36 1956 Member Council Cloth./FootwearAli Hassan Larnaca 42 1956

Yusuf Ali 27 1956

Houlouz Jaglari Nicosia 25 1956 Member Nicosia Union Committee

Kiami Sukri 27 1954 Member Council Cloth./FootwearMustafa Tahir 40 1954

Ahmet Ali Limassol 24 1954 Member of Limassol Union Committee

Ali Jevat Nicosia 23 1955 Member of Nicosia Union Committee

Ferit Urai 23 1958 Member Council Cloth./FootwearHalil Jaglari 26 1958 Member of Nicosia Union committee

Hasan Shefkii Limassol 35 1958 Member of Limassol Union Committee

Machine and Electrical Workers Union

Mustafa Hassan Nicosia 24 1955 Member of Mach. & Elec. UnionKiamil Ali Nicosia 24 1955 Member of Mach. & Elec. Union

Kemal Ali Larnaca 29 1955 Member of Larnaca Committee

Transport, Dockworkers and Porters UnionHassan Rifat Limassol 25 1955 Member Limassol Union CommitteeArif Houlousi 23 1955

Salih Osman Famagusta 31 1955 Member Famagusta Union Committee

Salih Hussein Nicosia 35 1955 Member Nicosia Union Committee

Sukir Mustafa Limassol 24 1954 Member Limassol Union CommitteeAli Hassan Larnaca 29 1953 Member Larnaca Union Committee

Ekrem Mehmet Limassol 30 1958 Member Limassol Union Committee

Mehmet Ali Paphos 46 1958 Member Paphos Union CommitteeMustafa Ali Limassol 46 1958 Member Limassol Union Committee

Ekrem Ahmet 30 1958 Member Limassol Union Committee

Ali Elmaz 39 1955 Mehmet Taouxi 32 1955 Agriculture and forestry workers union

Kiamil Yusuf Trachoni Limassol 34 1958 Member Limassol Union Committee

Hamit Zuper Kolossi 23 1958 Member Kolossi

Mehmet Jemal Episkopi 34 1958 Member Episkopi Branch CommitteeIstin Jahit 41 1958 Member Episkopi Branch Committee

Kiamil Yusuf Trachoni 31 1958 Member Trachoni Branch Committee

Kemal Mustafa Kolossi 38 1958 Member Kolossi Branch Committee

Aihan Dervis Episkopi 25 1955 Member Episkopi Branch CommitteeRevial Niazi Trachoni 30 1955 Member Trachoni Branch Committee

Rashid Jemali Kolossi 30 1955 Member Kolossi Branch CommitteeHussein Hurni Alamino 36 1955 Mmber Alamino Branch Committee

Tazip Omer Famagusta 31 1949 Member Famagusta Branch CommitteeEmin Hassan 40 1949

Mustafa Hussein 28 1949

Miners Union

Yahayan Hassan Mavrovouni 27 1939 Mavrovouni Union Assistant CollectorResvat Emin 31 1939 Mavrovouni Union Gen. Coll.



Mehmet Shefki 30 1939 Mavrovouni Union Ass. Coll.

Salih Ali 32 1939 Member Mavrovouni Branch CommitteeShefik Ahmet 37 1939

Mustafa Ahmet 49 1939

Hussein Hilmi 40 1946

Nejat Mullahassan 35 1946 Viekpi Hassan 37 1946

Yusuf Mustafa 50 1945

Irfan Suleiman 40 1945

Hussein Hilmi 29 1945 Hotel and Restaurant Workers Union

Kiamil Yusuf Trachoni Limassol 51 1955 Member of Limassol Union Committee

Halil Sukri Kolossi 30 1955

Mehmet Hassan 47 1955 Famagusta Municipal Workers Union

Salih Ibrahim Famagusta 34 1958 Member Famagusta Union Committee

Larnaca Municipal Workers UnionUstan Koulai Larnaca 25 1958 Member Larnaca Union CommitteeNicosia Municipal Workers Union

Ahmet Yahat Nicosia 23 1955 Member Nicosia Union Committee

Piroi General Workers UnionSafer Hadjibei Potamia 27 1950 Member Piroi Union Committee

Mustafa Osman 21 1950

Turgut Osman Genagra 30 1954 Potamia General Workers Union

Ibrahim Mousi Potamia 32 1954 Member of Potamia Union Committee

Mustafa Ramada 20 1955 Shafet Hadjiosman 34 1955 Larnaca General Workers Union

Yusuf Ali Larnaca 27 1954 Collector Larnaca Union

Hussein Sherim 31 1954 Member Larnaca Union Committee

Ibrahim Mustafa 28 1954 Ayios Theodoros, Larnaca General Workers Union

Ibrahim Ibrahim Ayios Theodoros 57 1955 Ayios Theodoros

Union Treasurer

Osman Jejatti 42 1955 Ayios Theodoros Union CollectorIsmael Reshep 40 1955 Ayios Theodoros Union Member

Ettem Bairam 35 1955 Larnaca Workers Union

Niazi Hassan Larnaca 35 1954 Larnaca Union Committee Member

TABLE 2

GREEK AND TURKISH-CYPRIOT MINERS TOGETHER IN GAOL

Serial No. Name Term of Imprisonment



1 Charalambos Mimis 24 Months

2 Ali Metim 24 3 Savvas Pourpouras 24

4 George Araouzos 24

5 Leonidas Agapiou 24

6 Demetris Kachais 12 7 George Ladiastis 12

8 Hassan Ali Politis 12

9 Mehmet Kattos 12

10 Nicholas Panayiotou 12 12 Sali Halil 12

13 Panayiotis Kokkinos 9

14 Abraham Christos 8

15 Ahmet Emin Paspalli 6 16 Demetris Pitsillos 6

17 Pericles Christodoulou 6

18 George Kontomeniotis 5 19 Charalambos Palmas 5 20 Andreas Hadjikokkinos 4

21 Polyvis Mouyiasis 4

22 Costas Agathokli 4

23 George Petrou 4 24 Yiannakos Stephanou 4

25 Kyriacos Yiakoumi 4

26 Anna Adamou 4 27 Melis Kouzoupis 4

28 Andreas Charalambous 4

29 Efstathios Stephanou 3 30 Suleiman Kouloumas 3 31 Hussein Kouloumas 3

32 Kypros Georgiou 3

33 Costas Hippis 3

34 Demetris Kasinos 3 35 Mehmet Hussein Mixis 3

36 Achilleas Ioannou 3

37 Christos Georgiou 3

38 Cleopas Nicola 3 39 Raif Mustafa 3

40 Rauf Mehmet 3 41 Suleiman Husnu 3

42 Yiannis Kyriacou 3 43 Stylianos Nicola 3

44 Hussein Mehmet 3

45 Kyriacos Michel 3

46 Florentzos Michael 2 47 Mehmet Kahraman 2



48 Chrystallou Michael 2

49 Eftychia Michael 2 50 Miarianna Yianni 2

51 Theopisti M. Kampiti 2

52 Katerina Christodoulou 2

53 Aristodemos Panteli 2 54 Eleni Evangelou 2

55 Calliope Yiangou 2

56 Charitos Adamou 2

57 Adam Hadjikaouros 2 58 Michael Christodoulou 2

59 Calliope Peyiasi 2

60 Despina Michael 2

61 Izet Kafetzi Izet 2 62 Loizos Angeli Varatos 1

63 Nathaniel Mavroskoufis 1

64 George Kajamis 1 65 Aristodemos Stavrinou 1 66 Savvas Hadjicosti 6 weeks

67 Styllis Nicola 21 days

68 Kemal Hilmi 21

69 Mehmet Kara Hussein 15 70 Kara Hassan Merijian 15

71 Anna Christodoulou 15

72 Eleni Manoli 15 73 Eleni Philippou 15

74 Maria Thrasyvoulou 15

75 Cleanthis Stylli 15 76 Chambis Nicola 15

ANNOUNCEMENTS - APPEALS

Many strikes and other forms of industrial action were organised in order to tackle the

problems of the Greek and Turkish workers of Cyprus. These were led by joint strike

committees or the councils of the unions concerned, and the councils of the UnionFederations.

Joint announcements were published in Greek and Turkish in thousands of copies, in

order to inform and mobilise the workers.The leaflets and fly sheets which follow are just some of the large number which werepublished by the strike committees, Unions and Labour Federations.

TO THE STRIKERS OF THE LIMNI MINE

Brothers,Today we a just battle is beginning and public opinion is on our side. It is time to show

the solidarity we have for each other, and prove to those who are drinking our blood and



our sweat that we are strong and courageous enough to stand up for our rights.

Do not forget the tortures we have suffered.Do not forget the barbaric way they have treated us.

Do not forget the two shillings they pay us.

All we ask is our rights.

We will never allow them to sack us for just asking for a little extra bread.The strike committee is true to your instructions and will fight to the end until your just

demands are met.

Soon all the workers of Cyprus will stand at our side. Stand together and follow the

instructions of the strike committee.1.1.1942

STRIKE COMMITTEE

ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE STRIKE COMMITTEE OF THE WORKERS AT

THE CYPRUS MINING COMPANY (CMC)

The Cyprus Mining Company in a special announcement published in a leaflet whichcirculated in many villages on 28/1/1948 stated that:a. Many CMC workers expressed their willingness to return to work;

b. The CMC does not intend to negotiate further with the unions on their demands; and

c) the company will admit those workers who wish to return on the same terms as

before .The above announcement is intended to deceive public opinion and give the impression

that the Miners are beggining CMC to take them back. This is a blatant lie and an attempt

to divide the strikers. The strike committee announces that all strikes remain loyal to their

union leadership and are determined NOT TO RETURN TO WORK unless theirdemands are met.

The statement by CMC that they refuse to negotiate with the Unions demonstrates onceagain the intransigent policies of this American Company. Unlike CMC, the strike

committee declares itself always willing to negotiate further management. If, however,the Company persists in its intransigent tactics, the strike committee and all the miners

will continue their struggle until they have forced the Management not only to negotiate

with the Unions, but also to meet their just demands.

CMC is deceiving itself if it believes that its workers or any other Cypriot workers arewilling to return to work on the previous terms of hunger, misery and malnutrition. NO

STRIKER OR OTHER WORKER WILL RETURN TO WORK AT CMC, as long as the

company refuses to meet workers demands.

The strike committee calls upon all Miners and other workers not to believe the various

announcements, the rumours spread by CMC agents, or the misleading publicationswhich are aimed at splitting the movement but to regularly read union announcements

and decisions.Miners!

DO NOT BE DECEIVED! Do not return to work at CMC unless told to do so by your

union.

Workers of Cyprus.DO NOT GO NEAR CMC for work because instead of bread you will be fed humiliation



and a life of living hell.

KEEP AWAY FROM THE MINOTAUR OF THE MINES. Fanatically support the juststruggle of the Miners.

LONG LIVE THE STRUGGLE OF CMC Miners.

THE STRIKE COMMITTEE

.WORKING WOMEN OF CYPRUS

ALL TOGETHER AT THE PANCYPRIAN RALLY!

Sisters,

The Pancyprian Rally of women workers which will take place on 25th September at 10am at the Royal Cinema in Nicosia is of the utmost importance.

The rally will discuss the issue of protection in case of illness, protection of widows and

orphans, equal pay for equal work, the implementation of the Law on a fair wage, and

other issues of great importance to working women.Sisters,

Do not absent yourselves from this Rally. Wherever you work, whatever your

occupation, you must take part in this Rally. Let us all join together to demand our rightsand interests.September, 1955

THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE OF WOMEN WORKERS. RESPONSE TO THE

APPEAL OF CMC WORKERS

Workers of Cyprus,Members of the old and new Unions, Greeks and Turks,

TOMORROW, THURSDAY 27.10.1955 the workers at CMC will be going on a 24 hour

strike to protest against the violation of their trade union freedoms and against theindifference of the government which encourages CMC and anti - union employers in

their attacks against trade union freedoms,

CMC workers have asked for our help and solidarity. The Pancyprian Labour Federation(PEO), the confederation of Cypriot Workers (SEK) and the Turkish Union Federationhave decided unanimously to offer the CMC workers full moral and material support.

The three federations are responding to the workers appeal by saying: WE WILL

NEVER ABANDON YOU!

PEO, SEK and the Turkish Federation calls on all workers and employees of Cyprus to ageneral four hour sympathy strike tomorrow, THURSDAY, beginning at 11.am. All

workers and employees of Cyprus, regardless of the organisation to which they belong,

are called upon to demonstrate, by a FOUR HOUR abstention from work, their solidarity

to the CMC workers, their protest at the arbitrariness of the employers and theindifference of the Government.

Workers and Employees of the whole of Cyprus,Yours brothers at CMC are struggling for the supreme right of workers, the right to

belong to a union. If CMC is allowed to violate the right of 1,500 workers, your ownrights will be in grave danger. The workers of CMC must win!. The workers of CMC

must be allowed to join unions! The independent union of CMC workers must be

supported and recognised!.

Let us send to all CMC workers a message of solidarity and encouragement: Workers of CMC! you are not alone! The workers of the whole of Cyprus, Greeks and Turks are



going on strike to support you!

- LONG LIVE the right to join a Union !- LONG LIVE solidarity to the workers of CMC

PEO

SEK

THE TURKISH FEDERATIONAPPEAL

BY PEO AND THE TURKISH WORKERS FEDERATION

To all Workers,

Greeks and TurksIn recent days some unpleasant events have taken place in Nicosia which resulted in

conflict between Greeks and Turks.

There is no doubt that these terrible events may harm the interests of the two

communities, and that things may become worse if we are not careful and allow thesituation to spread.

Greek and Turkish workers have common interests. Their problems are the same. Social

security, the cost of living, housing etc., all all these issues are of concern to both Greeksand Turks. In order to solve these problems, joint, unified struggles are needed. Turkishworkers must join hands with Greek workers, Turkish women must join hands with

Greek women, and all together try to solve our problems.

After recent events, some have tried to cause economic war by calling on Greeks to not

shop from Turks or Turks from Greeks.We must combat this situation. It is a big mistake. This would create enmity between

Greeks and Turks.

Brothers and sisters,The two Cypriot Labour Federations, (PEO and the Turkish Worker s Federation)

appeal to you all and call you to reconciliation, for the good of both Greeks and Turks.

Put an end to your differences. Join hands and strengthen your friendship, for the good of all workers, all Cypriots, Greeks and Turks.Ignore all divisive slogans, no matter where they come from.

Brothers and Sisters Union members, Federation Officials.

It is up to you to stress to the workers and the people in general the importance of this

appeal.Wherever you may be - at work or at the coffee shop - explain the full meaning of this

appeal to every single Cypriot - Greek or Turk.

LONG LIVE friendship and co-operation between Greeks and Turks. It is the only way

to solve the problems of the people.FOR PEO

MICHALAKIS MICHAELIDESFor the Turkish Workers Federation

M.N. DAGLINicosia, 28.4.1956

TO ALL WORKERS IN FORESTRY

Brothers and Sisters,

Greeks and Turks, Union members or not!On 30.9.1956 a Pancyprian Meeting was held, with representatives from many villages



where there are people employed as woodcutters. The three Federations, T.W.F., PEO,

and SEK attended this meeting and helped us to discuss our demands.The demands we have decided to submit to the employers are:

1. WAGE INCREASE:

Taking into account the wages of skilled workers in other fields compared to our work

with its difficulties, dangers etc., we have decided to demand the following wages:Men:

A class £1,250 mils Basic wage

B class £1,200 mils Basic wage

C Class £1,150 mils Basic wageUnskilled £1,000 mils Basic wage

Women:

A Class £0,700 Basic Wage

B Class £0,600 Basic WageUnskilled £0,550 Basic Wage

When workers are used for other work (singeing) they should receive an extra 150 mils a

day.2. RAINY DAYSEveryone know that when it rains workers receive no money for the hours lost. It is

therefore reasonable that we be paid as follows:

a) For no work done, pay for 2 hours

b) For up to two hours, pay for 3 hoursc) For 3-4 hours, pay for 5 hours

d) For 4-8 hours, pay for 8 hours.

3. OVERTIME PAYWork performed after hours must be considered and paid for as overtime.

a) On week-days 1 hour to be reckoned as 1 1/2 , and

b) On Sundays one hour to be reckoned as two.4. HOLIDAYSThis is now a vested right of thousands of men and women all over Cyprus. The

occupation of the woodcutter is one of the harshest of all. Owing to the nature of the

work we need annual holidays. Some woodcutters have this benefit, but only for a very

few days: they are allowed only 3 days a year. We propose that all woodcutters receive 8days paid holiday each year.

5. TRANSPORTATION

Workers should be taken from their homes to work and back by bus.

6. TRAVELLING TIMEIt is well known that it takes 2-3 hours for workers to get from their villages to their place

of work. For this time they are paid 50% and lose the remaining 50%. We propose thatthe agreement be changed as follows:

During all travelling times, it should be considered that the workers are in the service of their employer, and workers are to be paid 50% of each hour it takes to travel to and from

work.

7. SAFETY AT WORK:We suggest that employers insure their workers so that they are properly covered in case



of accidents at work.

These are the demands which will be submitted to the employees. You know better thananyone the circumstances in which you work. These demands are reasonable and fair. For

our demands to succeed, we must inform all workers. THE DUTY OF ALL UNION

MEMBERS is to cultivate a spirit of unity and co-operation between Greek and Turkish

workers and between members of the old and new unions.All workers must join a union to ensure success!

The three Unions: the Turkish Union of General Workers of Vradisia, the New Union of

Pyrgos, and the Kambos Woodcutters Union call on all workers to work hard to make

these demands a reality.For the Turkish Union

Zeki Huseyin For the Kambos Union

N. Mavroskoufis

For the Pyrgos WorkersStelios Theocharous

ANNOUNCEMENT BY LABOUR FEDERATIONS TO ALL WORKERS

Brothers,The Labour Federations of Cyprus wish to inform all workers about the issue of SocialSecurity. It is well known that as a result of the long struggles of the working class, the

Government has implemented new legislation by which on 7th January 1957, a State

Social Security Scheme will come into effect.

The benefits provided by this Law do not meet all the demands of the workers of Cyprus,but it does meet our basic demand for Social Security. Our demands for old age pensions,

widows and orphans pensions are met up to a point. Old age pensions which will be paid

after 1960 to those over 65 will be 5.200 mils monthly for those insured. For those withone dependant, 7,800 mils and for those with two or more dependants, 9.100 mils. The

same amount will be paid to the widows of insured persons, and the same basis will be

used for unemployment and sickness benefits.As stated above, we are not satisfied with these benefits, but they do represent a realconquest for the working class. The workers of Cyprus have achieved a first success in

Social Security, and will continue their struggle to improve the Law and secure higher

benefits.

Brothers,One of the main shortcomings of the Social Security Scheme is the absence of medical

care. This is an important benefit for all workers. The employees of Cyprus have enjoyed

the benefits of medical care for years and know how important it is.

The Labour Federations have already submitted a proposal to the Government for anamendment to the Law so that it includes medical care.

The workers and employees will not give up until they have achieved a full system of social security which will provide:

a) In addition to benefits and allowances, free medical care and medication, andb) democratic administration with the participation of both workers and employers.

Brothers,

At a joint meeting, the Labour Federations discussed the issue of maintaining Union and

other Medical Funds through which workers enjoy medical care. The decision is tomaintain these funds until the State Scheme includes medical care.



Contributions should be reduced by 20% for those covered by the State scheme, and

remain the same for those not covered. In this way, theee 50 mils contribution will godown to 40 for both workers and employees.

For the Labour Federations:

SEK, TURKISH FEDERATION, PEO, POAS

Nicosia, 29/12/1956TO ALL WORKERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY - NICOSIA, KYRENIA

Brothers,

The Union of Builders, Woodworkers and General Workers of Cyprus call all workers in

the Construction Industry to a meeting next Tuesday 27.8.1957 at 2pm at the Old UnionBuilding.

The meeting will discuss:

THE LATEST COUNTER-PROPOSALS OF THE ASSOCIATION OF BUILDING

CONTRACTORS IN RELATION TO OUR DEMANDSBrothers Greeks and Turks

Construction Workers,

On Tuesday at 2pm lay down your tools work and come to the meeting to hear theContractors counter-proposals and decide on what action should be taken to meet ourdemands.

Brothers, Shop Stewards, Branch officers and Officials, we must all work hard to make

this the most successful meeting so that we can counteract the Contractors proposals.

With Unity among all construction workers, and sincere and honest friendship, let usdiscuss the contractors counter-proposals.

ALL TOGETHER AT TUESDAY S MEETING

For the Builders, Woodworkers and General Workers Union of CyprusTHE EXECUTIVE BOARD For the Federation of Turkish Unions of Cyprus

Niyazi Dagli

LONG LIVE THE PANCYPRIAN RALLY OF WOMEN WORKERS OF CYPRUSPEO - 1955On the 25th of September a rally of women workers will take place at the Royal Cinema

in Nicosia. One of the matters to be discussed is that of Social Security. The workers will

demand Social Security and allowances, medical examinations and medication when they

are ill, pensions for widows and orphans. All women workers must attend.Caption: A widow from Kalo Chorio with two of her five orphaned children. Her

husband was killed at the mines. There are hundreds more like them throughout Cyprus.

That is why the Government must protect them through Social Security.

WOMEN WORKERS OF CYPRUS, COME TO THE PANCYPRIAN RALLY ON25TH SEPTEMBER!

PHOTOGRAPHS FROM COMMON STRUGGLES (Included in the Original Book)The photographs which follow show the difficult working conditions of Greek and

Turkish - Cypriot workers in the past, and the common struggles to solve their economicand social problems. They also show the joint efforts of their unions to find a just and

viable solution to the Cyprus problem

CAPTIONS OF PHOTOGRAPHS: (Included in the Original Book)

Greek-Cypriot, Turkish-Cypriot and Maronite miners in the square outside theMavrovouni mine in 1937, ready to go down the shafts to open a pit from which the cart



containing the ore will be removed by winch.

The shoemaker s bench at the Cyprus Footwear Company in 1939. This was at 9,Lefkonos street and employed both Greeks and Turks.

Greek and Turkish - Cypriot porters at Famagusta docks in 1944.

May day celebrated by Greek and Turkish Miners employed by the C.M.C. at Lefka -

Mavrovouni in 1947. The event was organised by the PEO Miners Union and the TurkishMiners Union. Wives and children also took part. As punishment for the workers

participation the company closed down the mine for three days.

A strike meeting of Greek and Turkish-Cypriot miners at Lefka in 1948. The meeting

was attended by the striker s wives and children.The children of Greek and Turkish miners picketing at Lefka - Mavrovouni in 1948.

They are protesting because the Company cut off the daily glass of milk it gave them, to

punish their parents for going on strike.

The board at a joint strike meeting of Greek and Turkish miners at Lefka in 1948. Thespeakers is the Secretary of the Miners Union Pantelis Varnava. On his right is the

Secretary of the Turkish Miners Union, Mehmet Halil Kahraman and next to him the

Secretary of the Central Committee of the Turkish Unions, Aziz Dudjai.The widow of a Turkish - Cypriot miner with her four orphans. Her husband was killed atthe Mavrovouni mine in 1952. She and her children had no protection as there was no

Social Security Law at the time.

The old Limassol port as it used to be. In the photograph are Greek and Turkish porters at

work.A strike meeting of Greek and Turkish dockworkers at Limassol in 1952. The panel of

the meeting of Paphos earthquake victims in 1953. It was attended by Greek and Turkish

Cypriots. The panel included priests, imams and laymen.Turkish - Cypriots in ethnic dress in the old Nicosia market place.

Halil Ahmet aged 14, son of Ahmet Yusuf Pomiloris, sits grieving on the bed where his

father was found dead on the morning of 21st March 1953 under the Four lanternsbridge in the Limassol Turkish neighbourhood. He died of hunger and exposure.Disabled Greek and Turkish - Cypriot miners in Nicosia in 1954 after having handed a

petition to the government asking for protection through Social Security Legislation.

Turkish - Cypriots at Mandria, Paphos in 1954 after a meeting to discuss the need for a

Social Security Law. With them is PEO representative Lambros Gonatas.The Pancyprian Rally of women workers, organised by PEO on 25.9.1955 at the Royal

cinema. This was attended by a thousand Greek and Turkish - Cypriot women workers.

The main issues discussed were the need for legislation fixing a fair minimum wage and

a Social Security Act.The members of the Turkish Bureau of PEO in a meeting in 1955. Second from the right

is the head of the Bureau, Ahmet Zati.Ahmet Zati, head of the Turkish Bureau of PEO, with his wife Leman and their daughter.

Zati escaped assassination by the Turkish terrorist organisation TMT in 1958 when hiswife shielded him with her body.

Pantelis Varnava as Central Organisational Secretary of PEO and Ahmet Zati as Head of

the Turkish Bureau of the Federation had an excellent working relationship were also

good friends. A. Zati (Left) and P. Varnava (right) in a commemorative photograph in1988.



The building which housed the medical centre of PEO in Nicosia between 1952 and

1974. It was built with the voluntary work of Greek and Turkish - Cypriots. Medical carewas offered to Greek and Turkish workers and their families.

The opening of the child-care centre at the PEO Medical Centre in 1960. It was situated

on Municipal Woods Avenue in Nicosia near the Kaimakli opening and is now in the

occupied area. The babies and children of Greeks and Turks were cared for at the centre.Students of the Lefka Turkish High School their teachers on a visit to the PEO Medical

centre in Nicosia in 1963. To the right is the former Chairman of the Administrative

Committee of the Centre, Dr Matthew Papapetrou.

A Greek-Cypriot with a picket written in Turkish, and a Turkish Cypriot with picket inGreek. They are guarding their strike in Paphos in 1963. They were brought together by

their common problems.

Greeks and Turkish - Cypriot workers at military works outside the Turkish -Cypriot

Union building in Nicosia in March 1955. At a joint meeting they discussed the proposalsby the British Authorities regarding their demands.

4000 Government workers demand more bread This is the slogan on the picket held

by a Greek and a Turk in Famagusta in 1958.Young Greek and Turkish Cypriots stand guard over their strike outside a car repair shopin Nicosia in 1953. They were demanding the right to join a union, fever working hours,

and wage increases.

A joint meeting of Greek and Turkish men and women employees at government works.

It was held at the Zafer cinema in 1963. They were demanding wage increases andother benefits.

From the meeting of the PEO delegation, headed by the Sec. Gen. at the time, Pavlos

Dinglis, and the DEV-IS delegation headed by its President Hassan Sarija at the LedraPalace Hotel in 1979. They discussed the Cyprus issue and issued a common statement

which they are analyzing to Greek and Turkish-Cypriot journalists.

From the meeting of delegates from PEO, the Turkish Cypriot DEV-IS the TurkishMineworkers Union, the Federation of Construction workers, and the Textile WorkersFederation of Greece at the Philoxenia Hotel in 1978. They discussed the Cyprus

issue and approved a joint resolution.

A meeting of delegates of PEO, SEK and TURKSEN with Greek and Turkish - Cypriot

representatives of dockworkers in Limassol on 12/9/1988. They discussed issuesconcerning dockworkers. On the left is the then chairman of PEO, Andreas Ziartides and

the Sec. General of SEK, Michalakis Ioannou. Next to them is the Turkish-Cypriot trade

union leader, Georgoglu.

From the All-Cyprus Trade Union Forum held in January 1995 in Nicosia. It wasattended by 126 representatives from 17 Greek and Turkish - Cypriot Unions. The Forum

discussed the Cyprus issue and approved a Declaration. Second from the right on thepanel is PEO Sec. Gen. Abraham Antoniou.

SOURCES - LITERATURE

1. Annual Reports of PEO and its Unions to the Registrar of Unions (1940 - 1960).

2. Reports of the Activities of the General Council of PEO to the I (1952) VIII (1953) X(1956) and XII (1961) Congress of PEO.

3. The Strikes of the Miners and Asbestos Miners in 1948 Published by the



mineworkers Union of PEO, Nicosia 1979.

4. 40 years of fruitful action 1931-1971 . Published by the PEO Clothing andFootwear Workers Union, Nicosia, 1971.

5. The Cypriot Miner . Published by the Central office of PEO Miners, 1951.

6. Bulletin of PEO Turkish Bureau, Nicosia, 1957.

7. Labour News . PEO Bulletin, Nicosia, 1957.8. The history of Social Security in Cyprus . A PEO document, 1968.

9. David Lavender, Harvey Mant, Godfrey Gunther, The History of the Cyprus Mine

Corporation . California, 1962.

10. Pantelis Varnava, A Miner recalls , a PEO publication, Nicosia, 1988.11. Pantelis Varnava, Fighting for Life A PEO publication, Nicosia,1990.

12. Pantelis Varnava, The mines of Cyprus (a historical overview). A PEO

publication, Nicosia, 1993.

13. Eleftheria Neos Anthropos , Anexartitos , Haravgi , Ergatiko Vima ,newspapers from various times.

14. Minutes of PEO Turkish Bureau meetings (1954-1958).

15. Minutes of meetings, registers of members, bulletins, leaflets and other documentsfrom PEO archives.16. Oral (on tape or otherwise) testimony of veteran Union members.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Pantelis Varnava was born at Pervolia, Trikomo in 1916. After graduating from primary

school he was forced to work for a living. In 1934 he went to work at the Skouriotissa

Mine and then at the Mavrovouni mine, both of which belonged to an American

Company.He worked as a miner until 1948. He was elected Secretary of the Miners Union (PEO) of

Skouriotissa - Mavrovouni - Xeros, and served in that position between 1945 and 1952.

He was also Secretary of the Central office of Miners 1948 - 1952.

He took part in the Mavrovouni Miners strikes of 1936, 1946, 1947, 1948 and in thestruggle for a cost of living allowance in 1944. In 1946, 1947 and 1948 he was among the

leaders (Greek and Turkish - Cypriots) of the strikes.

He joined AKEL in 1941 and has been a leading official in various bodies of the party.

Common Labour Struggles of Greek and Turkish Cypriots

Documents

Transcript of Common Labour Struggles of Greek and Turkish Cypriots