Honiara Workers

On Strike

HONIARA, November 1.

More than 1,100 native workers employed by the Government and private enterprise in Honiara are on strike over wages.

THE strike began when 930 Gov ernment labourers and others on day rates walked out in protest at a new wage schedule for all Govern ment staff. About 200 workers em ployed by private enterprise in the town walked out in sympathy.

The salaries revision was an nounced after a long delay which had caused protests (see p. 134). Ex patriate officers will receive a 20 per cent, increase on present salaries, local staff 13 per cent, and day rate workers 10 per cent. The increases for expatriate and local staff are retrospective to April, 1961, but the day workers were not granted retro spectivity.

The strikers have demanded the Government grant labourers increases of from £7/3/- to £lO a month and classified workers from £B/14/6 to £l5. There is a general atmosphere of discontent in Honiara.