6 Mar 2006

Solomons port strike referred to Disputes Panel

4:54 pm on 6 March 2006

Striking workers from the Solomon Islands Ports Authority in Honiara and Noro returned to work after a half-day strike.

The Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation says more than 160 workforce ended their action once the dispute with their employer was referred to the Trade Disputes Panel.

The workers went on strike when negotiations with their management over log of claims ended in a deadlock.

General Manager of the Solomon Islands Ports Authority Ngenomea Kabui says one of the demands in their log of claims was an increase in school fee allowances.

Mr Kabui says the workers also side-tracked from the normal procedures by disputing gratuity payments awarded to the Ports Authority Board members by the Minister of the Crown.