-Workers Union allows for labour commissioner to mediate
-Grievances include covid-19 allowances not paid by Ports to its workers, no cost-of-living adjustment and bonuses
BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
The country’s Workers Union (WUSI) has postponed a strike which was set to begin yesterday at the Solomons Ports (SIPA).
President of the Solomon Island Council of Trade Union (SICTU) Tony Kagovai said they had postponed the strike action to allow time for the commissioner of labour to mediate between SIPA WUSI.
The postponed strike followed a 28-day strike notice issued to the Solomon Islands Ports Authority (SIPA) by the Workers Union of Solomon Islands (WUSI).
The strike notice took effect on January 10 and lapsed yesterday, February 6.
This action followed SIPA’s failure to provide workers with their Covid-19 allowances, a 3.5 percent Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) and bonuses from the previous year.
In an interview with Island Sun, Mr Kagovai said they met with the SIPA workers on Wednesday this week and agreed to postpone the strike action to allow the commissioner of labour to conduct mediation between SIPA and WUSI.
“It was endorsed in the meeting for the commissioner to negotiate. The SIPA workers, 300 employees, attended the meeting. The aim is to have a clear mind of the ongoing matter,” said Kagovai.
“If the negotiation doesn’t work then we will go on strike or refer the matter to the Trade Dispute Panel (TDP) and go to court. Those some options,” he said.
He said that the SIPA CEO has been isolating himself for the last six years, although the Union wrote to him about such an important matter.
“So, for us, that is enough. We extend the strike notice to allow the commissioner to negotiate,” he said.
He said that the SICTU and WUSI have done what is fair and reasonable.
Adrian Tuhanuku, WUSI secretary also shared similar sentiments when Island Sun sought clarification on the issue.
“If SIPA, as the recipient, does not agree with the notice and refers to the Trade Dispute Panel (TDP), however, in this case, when the strike laps, both parties do not make a referral. So, the commissioner now mediates on the issue,” he said.
“It’s clear that we do not make referrals, and I’m hoping that they would resolve it or refer to the panel to look at the case. But, the 28 days’ notice, stands. We can strike back. That’s our view.
“We declared in a letter Thursday night, that we uphold the 28-day strike notice, and see ourselves as in compliance already. But because of the new development, where the chance of arbitration outside there, we allow the commissioner to do the work,” said Tuhanuku.
SIPA was contacted for comments but did not respond.
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