NCD squad flown to Bulolo

MOBILE Squad 03 police from the McGregor barracks in Port Moresby have been flown to Bulolo, Morobe, to beef up local force providing security to the PNG Forest Products ply and saw mills.             
Bulolo Mobile Squad 15 commander Snr Insp Timothy Mataro, who picked up the squad yesterday, said they had been flown to Bulolo at the cost of PNG Forest Products.
He said they would help the local police to ensure safety for company property and people in Bulolo.       
“The squad members will remain on the ground in Bulolo until the situation returns to normal,” Mataro said.
He said his members, accompanied by company security manager David Bume, took the squad on a tour of the property and an inspection of the closed down sawmill to ensure everything was in order.  
PNG Forest Products managing director Tony Honey flew into Bulolo with two other directors in a private aircraft to hold discussions with general manager Ian Cobb and his senior management to find a solution to the strike by workers now in its third day. 
PNG Forest Products and National Forest Authority workers union president Tukana Matagedec and secretary Albert Kaklep said the NFA workers’ union was a sister union of the PNG Forest Products workers union.                                              
“We call on the respective ministers, industrial relations and opposition members, the deputy opposition leader and local MP Sam Basil to take on board the concerns of the striking workers and find a lasting win-win solution to the problem so workers could resume work at the earliest possible time,” Matagedec said.  
The union’s key demands were improved pay and work conditions and safety issues.
The companies wanted the workers to resume work before negotiations began.
The union said its members would not go back to work until negotiations were made.