Three unionists sacked for inciting strike

Lae News, Normal
Source:

Then National, Wednesday 12th September, 2012

THREE top Papua New Guinea Forest Products Union executives were sacked from work after workers returned to work yesterday following a strike.    
But they stopped work again after learning their leaders were out of jobs and called for their reinstatement. 
Union president Tukana Matagedec, vice-president Max Leau and treasurer Robin Wauri were served their termination by police at 10.30am yesterday and ordered to vacate their company house in 24 hours or be evicted by police.
The three have taken out a restraining order from Bulolo district court to stop their termination by the company, claiming it was illegal and against the labour laws of the country.
The union has about 1,000 members.
The PNG Forest Products management also took out a court order to have the employees return to work.
“We respect the court order and allowed our members to return to work,” Matagedec said.
“However, the company then issued our termination notice today as well.                          
“We are fighting for a genuine case for the welfare and well-being of our workforce with PNG Forest Products. 
“There hasn’t been any log price review in the past 15 years by National Forest Authority and PNG Forest Products which contributes to the employees being paid less and landowners were paid only 5% as their royalty payment. The government has been paid less tax by the company as well,”
Work had stopped at the main workshop, the ply mill and saw mill in Bulolo, with workers involved in the protest for better wages, working conditions, safety issues at the workplace and a training and localisation programme.          
There hasn’t been training and a localisation programme in the company to allow for the national workers to take over from their expatriates after three years, Matagedec claimed.
He said the Department of Labour and the Office of Industrial Registrar did not understand the problems they were facing.
The Office of the Industrial Registrar had ruled that the union’s strike was illegal.