Management comes good on union demands

The National National

By MALUM NALU
TELIKOM management responded favourably to demands by staff to withdraw an earlier letter to them concerning a six-month probation period and that their ex-gratia payments be made.
The PNG Communication Workers Union and Telikom staff met on Wednesday and petitioned the company management to:

  • Write to all staff withdrawing an earlier letter concerning a six-month probation period; and,
  • Write to all staff assuring them that their ex-gratia payments will be made.

Telikom general manager, people and capability, Priscilla Salle Ao said the probationary clause “is a standard clause on all new employment and appointment letters in Telikom PNG”.
“The HR department will revisit letters issued and ensure this clause is removed for all appointments that are not new,” she said
“The HR department has further met with a small group of engineering line managers to address this concern and have followed through with an email advice to the engineering team to confirm the same.
“You can be assured that this clause is a standard clause on our letters and was not intentionally put for any other reason.
“The ex-gratia clause in the letters reaffirms the position of the company as per the circular of June 2016, which was sent to all staff on this matter.
“It is totally incorrect and misleading to state that this has been forfeited.
“The ex-gratia component remains accrued for staff, as at the conditions of the circular of June 29, 2016.”
Union president Nug Mamtirin and the staff welcomed the management’s response at a meeting yesterday morning.