EL-SEN Draws Cypriot Government into Electric Privatisation Stalemate

Tuluy Kalyoncu, the President of ICEM affiliate Turkish Electricity Authority of Cyprus Workers’ Trade Union, or EL-SEN, easily admits it: without the ironclad clenched collective fist of each and every one of his union’s 600 members, the state-run electric company, KIB-TEK, would be on unimpeded course straight into the hands of a private-sector generating company favorable to Ankara.

And with that, so would a number of other state-owned enterprises in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus become pawns to the profiteers. EL-SEN, together with its national labour centre, TÜRK-SEN, deploying both fortitude and strategic vision, are clearly leading a growing mass movement in Northern Cyprus that includes opposition political parties, NGOs and most other unions.

A sampling of that mass movement took place when many of those groups held a first-step manifestation in Lefkoşa on 30 January. This action was tame, but unless the ruling government retreats from Turkey’s neo-liberal agenda, upcoming street actions will be powerful and ever more demanding.

EL-SEN Leaders at 30 January Manifestation

The EL-SEN and TÜRK-SEN leadership of this movement was vividly seen in a series of events that began 19 January with a paralyzing strike that shut the electric grid, except for parts that the union and its members deemed life-essential. And that was then reflected in government’s retreat, albeit temporarily, when it published in its official gazette a union-submitted restructuring plan for KIB-TEK.

That restructuring calls for a board of directors that is fully autonomous from the government, and one that will take decisive action to make KIB-TEK feasibly sound. EL-SEN objects to all government departments, agencies, and quasi-public institutions receiving free electrical power from KIB-TEK, for instance.

The government’s publication of the union’s restructuring plan came five days after it declared the strike illegal and four days after EL-SEN did quit the strike, but continued a work stoppage through civil disobedience. (See ICEM news article here.) It also came after the union received broad support, including remarkable solidarity from the Free Pancyprian Union of Electricity Authority Employees (FPUEAE) on the Greek side of the island, who made sure no power from the south was exported northward.

But the struggle is far from over. The ruling government still has a draft bill before the Northern Cypriot Parliament to push ahead with privatisation. EL-SEN has put forth a different legislative proposal that would keep the utility in state hands and restructure it into a viable, low-cost energy provider that benefits all citizens of Northern Cyprus.

EL-SEN leadership and Prime Minister İrsen Küçük and his team will meet this week to discuss this alternative legislation. Most importantly, a plan must come forward to make the ill-managed company solvent.

“Our struggle is now with the strength of our membership,” said EL-SEN President Kalyoncu. “We have proven that 600 workers can stand and resist a political decision,” adding that resilient vigilance has now taken hold by El-SEN union members and it must resonate with all citizens of Northern Cyprus.