PNG Power is once again in turmoil two days into election. The Union workers have announced a sit-in protest.
Two senior members of the Management team were suspended prompting Union Leaders to come out publicly.
The Workers Union are calling for the board to be removed and their outstanding entitlements be paid in full.
They’ve accused the board for neglecting to pay their dues. The Union is also questioning the payments made to an electrical company contracted to PPL.
Union Leaders claim that sources in PPL’s Finance Department say the Board is signing cheques to the contractor.
“Knowing very well that the board had paid a million to an electrical company, so the employees have become aware, but if the board is feeding itself and forgetting about the employees, the ultimatum is to protest what the board has done,
“And we are going to stop work, we are calling on the Prime Minster and the Minster (Charles Abel) to act on the two letters we sent them,” says Energy Workers General Secretary, Santee Margis.
They’ve also made allegations that the board is encroaching on the operational management of PPL.
They are now calling on the removal for PPL Chairman, Andrew Ogil.
Today, members of the Union gathered at the PPL headquarters calling on the government to remove the board.
“Now the employees are saying, we are sitting down and we see how good they will address this issue, the call of the workers is to get rid of the current board and its chairman,” says Margis.
Their action comes after two senior executives were suspended, General Manager Human resource, Arnold Harriman and General Manager Customer Service, Upa Minga.
Arnold Harriman was dealing with Union grievances when he got suspended today, while Upa Minga has been collecting debts for PNG Power.
They were part of the management team responsible for PPL’s revenue growth in the last two years.
