AIR NIUGINI WORKERS THREATEN TO STOP WORK

More than one thousand Air Niugini Workers have threatened to stop work if the management does not respond to their demands.

These are members of the National Airlines Employees Association which make up 50 per cent of Air Niugini’s workforce.

This action comes after the airline announced it will lay off 250 staff as a cost cutting measure.

The union has given Air Niugini 7 days to meet with the staff to address their grievances.

Members of the National Airlines Employees Association gathered today at Air Niugini’s headquarters in Port Moresby. All members have resolved to stop work if management does not respond within 7 days.

Today’s meeting was for the union to get collective views of its members as to how it can then present itself to Air Niugini’s management.

Last week, the flag carrier announced to lay-off 10% of its workforce as a cost cutting measure however, this has not gone down well with its workers.

The union says the management has not justified its reasons for laying off 250 workers, and blame management for the increasing costs which the company cannot sustain.

Today’s meeting suggested other cost cutting options for the management to take up. Air Niugini Workers through the union wants the management to abandon its plan to reduce the workforce by 10 per cent, and look at above cost factors in its value enhancement program to achieve improved cost effective results.

PNG Today/EMTV