Unions should stick to industrial issues: PM

PRIME Minister Sir Michael Somare yesterday hit back at the unions in the country, accusing them of representing no-one on the issue of Julian Moti.
He accused the unions, particularly the PNGTUC general secretary John Paska, of ignoring issues that concerned workers.
“This (Moti) is not an industrial issue; the trade union has not fixed the urban wages, they have not fought for the rights of Papua New Guineans to have increments in their salaries, taking inflation into account today.
“How many times has Paska and his union stood up for the rights of Papua New Guineans,” he asked.
Sir Michael said the PNG Teachers Association did nothing when his Government gave teachers and police salary increases.
“For them to say they will take it to the streets, are they protecting the workers’ rights or are they protecting Moti’s rights? I’m ashamed of you Papua New Guineans; you have no integrity. Please stop being copycats and scapegoats for other people. There is no industrial issue here,” he said.
The Prime Minister was responding to the unions’ call for him to step down over the Moti issue, or face a nationwide strike.
Asked if he would step down, the Prime Minister said he was not answerable to Paska, and urged him to stand for elections and get into Parliament.
He also challenged the union to endorse candidates in East Sepik against him and National Alliance party and see if they win.

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