21 Nov 2019

Vanuatu parliamentary staff threaten to strike

10:45 am on 21 November 2019

The staff of Vanuatu's Parliament are planning to strike in 30-days if the government doesn't act on an ultimatum they have sent.

Vanuatu parliament

Vanuatu parliament Photo: RNZ/Sally Round

The strike notice was issued by the Vanuatu National Workers' Union, acting on behalf of the parliamentary staff, the Daily Post reports.

Union official Rocky Thomas Bule said the ultimatum came after meetings with the Speaker of Parliament, Esmon Saimon, and the Commissioner of Labour, Murielle Meltenoven.

Mr Bule claimed decisions were reached at the meetings but not implemented, but Mrs Meltenoven said they would be put in place within the 30-day time frame.

She said a conciliator had already been appointed to look at outstanding issues, including demands for a 25 percent wage increase.