Workers stay away

 WORK on the stadium that will stage the opening and closing ceremonies at next year’s Pacific Games is moving along despite the absence of some workers.

Builder Fletcher Morobe has yet to address grievances of striking workers, who stopped work nine days ago in demand, among other things, to be paid the national minimum nation wage and better conditions.

A skeleton staff, along with sub-contracted workers, have kept work progressing but with already nine days gone and not a full work force to drive construction, the K78 million Sir John Guise Stadium is in danger of falling behind.

With the city on a tight deadline – all major games venues must be delivered by May next year – to meet the Pacific Games Council timeframe, Fletcher management agreed to meet representatives of the striking workers this week to reach a compromise.

Workers at Fletcher’s other major project, the K190 million Taurama Aquatic Centre, stayed away from work last week, however progress does not seem to have been slowed noticeably at that venue.

The outcome of that meeting has yet to be known, however company owner Kevin Fletcher, who was out of the country last week, was supposed to have returned to Port Moresby to meet the workers. 

Most of the Pacific Games heads are out of the country and the issue looks likely to remain unaddressed for the forseeable future. 

Venues Infrastructure and Equipment Committee deputy chairman Mel Donald referred queries regarding the strike to Fletcher management, saying the company would handle the issue. 

“I believe the workers were back at work on Wednesday (last week) and the strike is to do with confusion on the new minimum wage rate,” Donald said.

“Please contact Fletcher Construction as they will be able to provide you with details,” Donald, who is out of the country, said via email.

Sports Minister Justin Tkatchenko and Pacific Games Organising Committee chairman Emma Waiwai are at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, and are not due back until next week.