PNG Power Ltd Management to meet with Union Exectutives
The PNG Power Management will meet with the executives of the PNG Energy Workers Association on Monday, July 31, 2017 to go through all the issues raised by the Union.
This follows action taken by PNGEWA members to stop work until their outstanding grievances are addressed by the Board and Management of PNG Power Ltd.
The grievances raised by the Union include the following:
1. 17.7% Pay Rise that is outstanding and must be effected immediately to all employees pursuant to the Enterprise Agreement 2015.
2. A Consultative Committee be immediately established pursuant to Section 4 (4.5) of the Enterprise Agreement 2015 to specifically deal with issues and matters of concern under the Enterprise Agreement 2015.
3. That the Discriminatory Application/Implementation of the five percent CPI stipulated by the Enterprise Agreement 2015 cited CPI must be dealt with immediately.
4. That the outstanding salary movement for staff on Grades 14 -10 from Band One to Band Two be immediately effected.
5. That the salary upgrading/movement for staff on salry Grades 14-10 which was supposed to be effected on 12th April, 2017, Pay period 9/2017 be effected immediately for Union members only.
6. That the outstanding 2010 Structure Alignment Program (SAP) be resolved immediately.
7. That the SAP be settled by the month of May, 2017 and payment be made retrospective to the month of May 2010 and payment only to PNGEWA unionized members must be settled immediately.
8. Outstanding Home Ownership scheme/sales of Institutional House must be resolved immediately.
9. That the PNG Power Board and Management provide their action plan and Program by the month of April, 2017 inclusive of Recruitment process and Financial delegation.
10. That the Ex- gratia /Service Entitlements for the former PNG Electricity Commission employees and transferred to PNG Power Limited be paid out the PNGEWA members only.
According to our records Grievances 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, had already been addressed.
The other outstanding grievances, including 4, 5, 6, 9,10 could not be dealt with due of lack of quorum at several of the ECC Meetings.
As a way forward and in order to effectively deal with union issues, the Board had directed the Management to create a full time position for an Industrial Relations Officer/Cordinator to deal with union matters. This position has been advertised in the newspapers this week.
I appeal to the staff not to take any drastic actions that would affect the operations of the company and the general public at this very crucial time where the counting of the ballot papers in the 2017 General Elections is not fully completed yet and with the formation of the Government coming up next week.
Let us sit down with your executives on Monday and go through your grievances and address them again.
Alex Oa, Acting Chief Executive Officer
Dated: 28th July, 2017
