By Vasinatta Yama – EMTV News, Mt Hagen
Two members of the Papua New Guinea Teachers Association in Mt Hagen, say Ugwalubu Mowana has no legal standing to talk on behalf of teachers about their pay cuts dilemma.
The members say PNGTA’s last election was in 2009, from which the Waigani National Court had declared it null and void.
One of the Teacher’s Reps, David Numbaming raised another issue that PNGTA members have been double deducted from their salaries for over 10 years.
These two members are leading the teachers in the Highlands to talk about their welfare, after the 2009 election to appoint the new PNGTA representatives was declared null and void.
They say there has been no election conducted till today, and the court case is still pending.
Hagen Tee Primary School Principal, David Numbaming was recognized by the Waigani National Court in 2017, to represent the PNGTA members in the Highlands, and talk about their welfare and issues.
Numbaming says for the last 10 years, PNGTA has been deducting more than 2 per cent of its member’s salary.
Numbaming and his colleague say the recent pay-cut is an added burden to teachers, after their salaries have been over deducted to PNGTA for more than a decade.
Highlands Teachers President, Aita Sanangkepe is calling on the right authorities to meet and discuss the recent pay-cuts, instead of attacking each other.
The PNGTA member representatives in the Highlands are urging teachers not to listen to the PNGTA National Secretary, because of the pending court cases on the legality of his election victory.
They say teachers must not go on strike, and are demanding Teaching Services Commission explanations.
