According to illegal Bayrak television (online, 19.12.16), self-styled deputy prime minister and minister of finance Serdar Denktas has announced that the “government” and trade unions have come to an understanding over working hours.

Trade unions had been staging strikes over the past two weeks demanding that the “government” set the clocks back to winter time following a tragic accident that claimed the lives of two school children and their bus driver.

According to the agreement reached, “public sector” working hours will be between 8:30am and 3:30pm for the exception of Thursdays which will be between 8:30am-1:00pm and 2pm-6pm.

Classes will start at 8:30pm.

In a written statement issued yesterday, Denktas said that an agreement had been reached with trade unions following talks over the weekend in a bid to prevent the further disruption of education at schools and services at “government offices”.

“All civil servants and teachers are expected to abide by the agreement reached between the government and the trade unions” the statement read.

A “government proposal” to pay teachers on morning duty overtime was also withdrawn following the agreement.

Denktas also announced that details regarding school hours and other issues will be finalized at a meeting to be held between the trade unions and officials from the “education ministry” at 4pm this afternoon.

The chairman of the “Public Sector Workers Union” (KTAMS) Ahmet Kaptan however announced that the agreement reached with the “government” only ended the civil disobedience of the “government” and that their struggle will continue until the “government” takes back the clocks to winter time.

The chairman of the Cyprus Turkish Secondary School Teachers’ Union (KTOEOS) Tahir Gokcebel said that they reached an agreement with the “government” as previous school hours had a negative impact on students.

He said that the real goal of persuading the “government” to take the clocks an hour back still continues.

Gokcebel also said that planning will be made to ensure that children will make up for the classes they did not attend due to the strike action.