19 Jul 2011

Guadalcanal Palm Oil workers prepare to strike

7:13 am on 19 July 2011

A group calling itself the Guadalcanal Workers Union is preparing employees at Guadalcanal Plains Palm Oil limited for a 14 day strike notice.

The Solomon Times online reports that the notice is about dissatisfaction over work conditions.

Jay Wilson, who presents himself as the leader of the union, claims that GPPOL has been paying its employees with packages well below the minimum conditions under the country's Labour Law.

Mr Wilson alleges that requests in recent years by the union to talk to the company on behalf of the employees were turned down by the GPPOL Management.

GPPOL management has not commented on the issue or on the legitimacy of the group.

Meanwhile, General Secretary of the Solomon Islands National Union of workers Tony Kagovai says he understands a similar complaint is before the trade disputes panel.

He however says the union is not aware of any plans for a strike notice.