NASA strike disrupts UPNG registration

REGISTRATION for new students was disrupted at the University of PNG yesterday as the National Academic Staff Association (NASA) held a stop work to protest an increase in their salary.
Many new students, enthusiastic over enrolling, were disappointed when they could not do so.
The NASA claim is an increase in its remuneration package dating back to Jan 1, 2001.
The UPNG administration describes it as strengthening of salary package.
Negotiations for this have been going on between various parties for nine months.
NASA president Dr Peter Petsul said a meeting was convened with the university management yesterday afternoon to address the matter but NASA members refused to sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) proposed by the administration.
Dr Petsul pointed out that the management and NASA had different views over the signing of the MoA.
He said there was no dispute with the union and the management so there was no need to have a MoA signing.
He said the management had only to implement salary changes.
Dr Petsul indicated that the Salary Condition Monetary Committee (SCMC) had approved the salaries last July when the council made its submission.
It is understood the signature of Department of Personnel Management secretary John Kali is required to trigger the process of implementing this. That may happen by today.
Yesterday, notices were placed on notice boards advising students that due to the NASA stop work meeting, NASA member were unable to attend the registration until further notice from their office.