Even atolls like the GEIC

have their labour troubles

Permanent staff of the GEIC Gov ;rnment had to take over some main government services in June when nore than 200 daily-paid employees unestablished staff) went on strike ? or higher pay, demanding in some :ases almost 50 per cent more. The BKATM, the union representing the employees, rejected a government )ffer of increases of 3c to 7c an hour, jack-dated to June 1.

The Chief Minister, Mr Naboua Hatieta, went on the air to warn of i threat to the economy should the government concede the demands, fhe government had made a generous offer, which would put the jEIC rates among the highest in the Pacific. To give in to the demand

would encourage the GEIDA work ers to look for higher wages; then there would be demands by govern ment workers, and so on.

The government wished to attract industry to the GEIC, but would not be able to do that if the GEIC paid higher wages than elsewhere. The overall cost of wage increases could run into millions of dollars, leading to highly inflated costs and unem ployment. No one wanted that.

Some non-union members did not offer for work after the strike started, not because they supported the strike, but because of threats by the strikers.

There was some inconvenience to the Central Colony Hospital at Bikenibeu, without orderlies to care for mental patients, attend to the hospital linen and cook. The hospital also lost its labourers and the supply of toddy which they provided. Some patients had to use mats for sleeping to save linen, and admissions were restricted to emergency cases.

Apart from that matters seemed to go along smoothly. Nursing staff onerated the washing machines, and kitchen staffs seemed bigger than before. Patients were even getting decorations on their meat pies. In fact, the staff seemed to be enjoying the change from normal routine.

The strikers returned to work on July 1, a little more than a week after they went out. The govern ment’s position was that it would not enter into negotiations on wages for unestablished workers at present.

However, the government reopened the offer already made, effective from July 1, for workers who re turned on that date. Workers who did not strike received the new rates from June 1.

Home Again

Back in Alotau, Papua, in July after a world tour lasting eight months is Canon John Bodger, Canon of Dogura and Rector of Alotau, who has lived in Papua since 1929. Still hale and active at 73, he’s the last surviving member of the pre war Papua Legislative Council.

He doesn’t plan to retire for another two years yet, and then will do community work on Papua’s north-east coast. On his trip he visited the UK, USA, Canada, NZ and Australia.

... "A threat to the economy", says Chief Minister Naboua Ratieta.