We will walk out from jobs on Friday: Public servants

THE telecommunication crisis is yet to be resolved, but another potential strike action is looming.

This time it is the public servants who are planning a nationwide strike this week.

The Solomon Islands Public Employees Union general secretary Paul Belande had confirmed to the Solomon Star that all public servants across the country will walk off their jobs on Friday.

Already word is circulating like wild fire among public employees in Honiara about the upcoming strike.

Mr Belande refused to go into detail about the proposed strike but said there are some issues which are unresolved between workers and the Government.

However, sources within the Government said SIPEU is unhappy with the current Government’s performance and its failure to meet some of its members’ greviences. “One of SIPEU's unresolved claim is on the salary increase,” a source said.

"On top of that the current government miserably failed to fulfill some of its planned obligations which we, the workers, will feel and know if a certain government is not actively driving things forward.”

Sources said even ministers are not performing to the standard expected of them. "Such action would result in officers receiving no directives as to what to do,” a source said.

Sources said workers are expected to walk off their jobs on Thursday. “If the government failed to respond appropriately, then a strike will eventually follow suit on Friday,” a source said.

Solomon Star understands SIPEU had issued a 14-day strike notice to the government a couple of weeks ago to address their demand for salary increase which should lapse some this week.

Source: Solomonstar