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Chairman intervenes
to get power back on
By JULIA DAIA BORE
POWER to homes in Port Moresby was restored by 9pm last night following
an intervention by the chairman of the PNG Power Limited (PPL) Sari Maso,
who met with the striking workers yesterday afternoon.
Mr Maso, in the company of the PPL human resource manager Bernard Aka
and general manager - operations Tony Koiri, met with the striking
workers and their union members including PEA’s Michael Malabag and
assured them verbally that he would personally deal with their
grievances by meeting with Government authorities and his board and push
their case.
The workers’ demands put forth to Mr Maso called for the immediate
sacking of the PPL CEO Patrick Mara.
They felt Mr Mara’s continuing refusal to deal personally with their
grievances had led to their strike action and the subsequent unplugging
of power supply, causing power blackouts to the nation’s capital
beginning 4:30pm on Wednesday.
The workers also called on Mr Maso to throw out the Enterprise Agreement
2007 and replace it with the Enterprise Agreement 2003, which they said
contained fairer conditions than the new one (Enterprise Agreement 2007)
that was drawn up and has yet to be registered and gazetted to make it a
legally binding document.
Their demands also cincluded the removal of Mr Aka because he had not
dealt with their issues adequately as the management’s go-between
officer.
They also asked that disciplinary actions not be taken against them for
going on strike.
The workers demanded that his assurance be put in writing, which the
board chairman complied.
His letter promised his personal undertaking to ensure that:
* In their next fortnight’s pay, all staff
payments would be processed in accordance with the 2003 Enterprise
Agreement instead of the 2007 Enterprise Agreement;
* PPL management to undertake an investigation
of the legal status of the 2007 Enterprise Agreement, including the
legal status of its signatories. This investigation is to proceed with a
view of providing the basis for the Enterprise Agreement to be
nullified;
*The Board undertake a review of the CEO’s
employment contract;
*Legal opinion be sought on any disciplinary
action against the workers who withdrew their labour, to be consistent
with the 2003 Enterprise Agreement ad PNG laws;
* Report back within seven days to the
president of the PNG Energy Workers Union and the same workers’
representative group, the outcome of the above issues.
 
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