Strike action imminent: PNGHSWA

 A NATIONWIDE strike will be the last resort if the Department of Personnel Management (DPM) does not respond to the PNG Health Support Workers Association’s (PNGHSWA) claims.

PNGHSWA president Roselyn Melua made the remarks at the declaration of the PNGHSWA election results in Port Moresby yesterday.

“A strike will be the last resort after we’ve exhausted all avenues of negotiation with DPM in the next couple of weeks within the month of March 2016,” Melua said.

She said to avoid the strike, the 11 claims that were submitted to DPM on Sept 18, 2015 had to be considered and responded to.

“All 11 claims are genuine and have been endorsed by the health secretary,” she said.  

“It is important for the health support workers at the administrative level and other support fields to do health support deliveries in the country.”

She said the claims that were submitted to DPM were supported by the 3000-plus members nationwide and it would be risky if DPM rejected the claims.

She said the Government and PNGHSWA should come up with a positive solution by signing an agreement no later than April.

“This is the warning from the PNGHSWA,” she said.

“PNGHSWA general secretary Jack Suao will take the lead in the negotiation of our claim with DPM, NDoH and PNGHSWA.”