Port Workers on Strike in the TRNC

A strike by the Turkish Cypriot Port and Transport Workers’ Union (Liman-Sen) is ongoing at the ports of Famagusta and Kyrenia in Northern Cyprus. The workers are protesting delays in wage payments and violations of the collective labor agreement.

The strike, which began earlier this week, has intensified. According to Liman-Sen President Aydan Bilgiç, as of last night, striking port workers have been barred from entering the Famagusta port.

Reports indicate that, despite the strike, cargo handling services are still being carried out—allegedly by shipping agency employees or outsourced workers, a move the union claims is illegal.

Bilgiç has called on the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, as well as the Department of Labor, to intervene. He emphasized that, under company law, cargo handling operations must be performed by certified port workers.

The union also alleges that unregistered and untrained individuals are being hired in violation of safety and labor regulations.

“They are blocking our entry, setting up barriers to prevent us from slowing down operations or disrupting their work. We even found ourselves in a standoff with the police,” Bilgiç stated.

It is estimated that around 170 port workers have not received their wages. Many of them are reportedly struggling with serious financial difficulties due to unpaid salaries and other withheld payments.

“We will continue our strike until we are invited to the negotiating table and a fair compromise is reached,” Bilgiç added.

Minister of Public Works and Transport Erhan Arıklı has already responded to the situation. Speaking on Ada TV, he called on the striking workers to suspend their indefinite strike, which was launched in response to unpaid wages, benefits, and breaches of the collective labor agreement.