by Theckla Gunga – EM TV News, Port Moresby
PNG Port’s Chief Executive Officer Stanley Alphonse had described the strike involving members of the PNG Ports Employees’ Union in Lae as illegal, and asked all union members to return to work.
In a media statement released today by PNG Ports, Alphonse stated that management was aware of the log of complaints that were previously submitted by the union and said negotiations of the claims were still ongoing.
Alphonse said the union did not accept the alternatives made by the board, and referred the matter for industrial arbitration, which is still yet to be addressed.
“Unfortunately the union claimed that we have ignored their log of claims”, Alphonse said. He added that the board had met with union members and discussed the claims on a number of occasions.
“We have made our positions known on these claims and we have even offered alternatives”, said Alphonse.
He also said the claim by the union about the board ignoring their log of claims is not true.
