Water PNG staff stop work over outstanding claims

WATER PNG Lae employees yesterday downed tools in protest against the management’s failure to address their 11 outstanding claims.
Water PNG Workers Association general secretary Andrew Waine said the claims were submitted to management on July 30.
Waine said employees and association members agreed to stage the protest during a meeting on Wednesday.
He said the claims included ex-gratia payment, consumer price index, housing allowances and domestic market award.
The strike may extend to other centres. The Department of Labour and Industrial Relations had ordered the Water PNG management and the workers’ association to discuss the claims amicably.
“Unfortunately the management was unable to respond as expected despite a meeting on Aug 13,” he said.
Waine said the association has notified the management, department, Minister for Public Enterprises William Duma and the Department of National Planning and Monitoring of the planned protest.
“The protest will continue until our claims are met and we will not entertain assurances or promises,” he said.