BY MORRIS NAFU

The Solomon Islands Nursing Association (SINA) has called off its planned 28-day strike, following productive discussions with government officials.

Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Public Service, Luke Cheka confirmed the withdrawal during yesterday’s session with the Members of the Bills and Legislation Committee (BLC).

The strike notice was set to run from September 4 to October 1.

It stemmed from unresolved concerns raised in ongoing talks with the Ministry of Public Service and the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (OPMC).

At the heart of the dispute was SINA’s dissatisfaction with the leadership approach of the current Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS).

In the notice, SINA highlighted an administrative oversight related to the interim appointment of the supervising national director of nursing, a position that became vacant in early March 2025.

Cheka assured the committee that the issue is being addressed promptly, paving the way for the strike’s cancellation.

“I met with them last week, and we discussed those matters in detail.

“I directed them to withdraw the notice, and they agreed,” he said.

He emphasized that the concerns were purely administrative and unrelated to the welfare or conditions of nursing staff, adding, that these are things they can handle internally.

BLC member and Leader of the Opposition, Matthew Wale, praised Cheka and the ministry for taking a proactive stance.

“It’s a positive move by all ministries to prevent strikes and ensure our public servants can work without disruption.

“We must prioritize looking after our employees,” said Wale.

Cheka further outlined broader efforts that are underway.

“We’re implementing major reforms across the public service right now, with more changes on the horizon.

“We have a dedicated committee reviewing terms and conditions for public servants, involving representatives from the public service, the Prime Minister’s Office, and the Ministry of Finance,” he explained.

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