Nurses threaten to go on strike next week

The Papua New Guinea Nurses Association have threaten to stop its financial members on turning up for work, next week Thursday if the National Government does not respond to their outstanding claims.

PNGNA acting National President Steven Nawik gave this ultimatum in a media conference this morning.  

He said the logs of claim dates back to the 2011-13 agreement that expired and the National Government, Department of Health and Department of Personal Management.

“17 August 2016 we gave a 14 days’ notice to the government that if they do not respond we will take industrial action,” Nawik said.

“We have written to the Industrial Registrar and till now have no respond, we have 100 percent support from our 21 branches and we go on strike”

The Association has 80 percent of members in the public health sector and the strike will affect ordinary Papua New Guineans who rely on government health services.  

Nawik said the disagreement has three parts, increase in nurses salary, audit into their pay structure and establishing of a housing committee.  

The acting vice-president Fredrick Kebai said, all available avenues have been exhausted and strike is the option available if the government do not respond to their demand.

Author: 
Charles Yapumi