The PNG Health Support Workers Association is giving the Prime Minister, Chief Secretary and the Department of Personnel Management, one week to address their grievances.
This is from the association’s General Secretary, Jack Suao, who is calling for a round table negotiation before an unannounced strike will be carried out.
This follows the result of the secret ballot declared today by the Electoral Commission.
Election Manager, Terence Hetinu, confirmed that the secret ballot was tasked by the Industrial Registrar to be conducted.
He said the secret ballot is a result of 14 provinces that were able to complete the polling on time. Of the votes, 1868 have voted to proceed with the strike while 11 have voted against it.
The secret ballot was conducted nationwide from October 31st to November 14th.
In receiving the results, the association’s General Secretary, Jack Suao, says the secret ballot is a result of the outstanding log of claims submitted to the Department of Personnel Management on September 18, 2015.
He said they are prepared to go on a surprise strike and is now giving the one week ultimatum to the Department of Personnel Management Secretary John Kali to address to their grievances.
He added that the log of claim followed all procedures and was acknowledged and signed by the Health Secretary, Pascoe Kase, who submitted the log of claims on their behalf to the DPM.
The Executives of the PNGHSWA will now submit a 1-week letter of notice to the Chief Executive Officers of all provincial health authorities.
