About 3,000 members of the PNG Health Support Workers Association (PNGHSWA) plan to go on strike on Friday, December 9.
The strike will be effective at of 4:06pm on Friday for the duration of three weeks as voted for by the members of the concerned PNGHSWA and declared on November 15.
The planned strike will be taken against the Department of Personnel Management (DPM) for prolonged delay on the log of claims which includes housing allowance, pay increase, leave entitlements and other industrial matters.
PNGHSWA general secretary Jack Suao said they have given DPM an ample time of three weeks to respond to their grievances however to date, DMP has not shown a positive response.
Suao said DPM has shown a negative approach ignoring a legitimate body PNGHSWA and its lawful purpose.
Suao explained that the strike is legal after a secret ballot done three weeks ago which resulted in 1, 868 members based in Port Moresby voting for the strike and only 11 against it.
He said health services at the PMGH and the provincial hospitals nationwide will be greatly affected with 1,000 members working in the provinces.
Other services that will be affected include the NCD Health, Area Medical Store and the Department of Health.
The 400 members of the association based at PMGN were informed about the planned strike today and met today in support of the strike.
Suao informed all PNGHSWA members not to feel threatened and intimated as the Association is there to support their call to go on strike.