Locals to take action

By FRANCO NEBAS

THE slow response by Morobe Mining Joint Venture (MMJV) in addressing issues affecting groups along the Watut River may lead to reactions soon.
Interim president of the union of Watut River Communities Rueben Mete issued the warning yesterday.
Mr Mete said the affected communities were frustrated over the way MMJV was handing the issues affecting them.
“It has reached a point that will spill off soon,’’ Mr Mete said.He said community leaders in Upper Watut and Middle Watut had set Friday, August 30 to meet to discuss and plan their next action against MMJV.
He said a meeting was planned to be held at Sambio Primary School where invitations were also extended to the interested surrounding communities of Mumeng, Wampar and Labu. Mr Mete said there were lots of media campaigns done by Morobeans on the damages caused by Hidden Valley Mining in the headwaters of Watut River and done to the river communities since its set up and construction.
But to this date nothing had been done to the communities concerned.
“Even if it means for us to take the law into our own hands, we will and are prepared for it,” he warned.
Mr Mete said the communities through the Union of Watut River Communities had petitioned the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC), Mineral Resource Authority and the Morobe Provincial Government about the damages since June last year but their calls had been ignored.
“All those media responses and paid advertisements made by the DEC and the Morobe Governor Luther Wenge are all lies and cheats to the concerned communities.
“MMJV even though it has responded to carry out sustainable projects in the impacted communities, have played bullying delayed techniques and have only exploited the people, their environment and biodiversities and used them as rabbits and scapegoats for experiment and trial tests,” a frustrated Mr Mete said.
“The time is now for the Watut River communities to stand up and take the course of action that it has in its heart to do.
“We will do what our brothers in Bougainville have already done because the Government of Papua New Guinea is still the same. And for our children’s children sake, we will do it bigger and better,” he said.

Post Courier 29 2010

RD Managers Threaten Workers In Their Own Villages

Filippino Expats AGAIN Bully PNGeans

You would think with a court appearance this Friday (30 July) in which six of their Filippino workers will be facing charges of murdering a Papua New Guinean government inspector on one of their ships, that RD Tuna would be a bit more cautious in their interactions with the local staff.

But that’s NOT how Pete Celso’s Troops are acting and again it appears RD is getting themselves in trouble. For years RD has violated the laws of PNG from environmental abuses, to sanitation problems, to strikes by Filipino staff on their boats (which RD branded as pirates). The company which has a rather poor reputation both within PNG and overseas continues to push locals around as if they owned PNG.

Chief hypocrite Rodrigo Rivera, Chairman and President, who pretends to be a wonderful Christian has once again shown his true colors and that of the pitiful RD group of companies.

Battered and frustrated at the strike by their workers RD managers went to new lows Tuesday night (27 July) as they descended upon Maiwara village and threatened the women to come to work or face turning in their Id Cards, which in essence meant they would be sacked.

Human Resource Manager Romeo Lee, Production Manager, Mr. Nongs, Plant Manager Gerry Juvele and last nights coward Security Manager Paul Vingu displayed typical RD management style, by boarding one of the vehicles which trucks the RD workers in and headed to Maiwara village. The night shift women were NOT going to work in solidarity with their fellow workers who had their ID cards taken from them by RD Security and NOT allowed to come back to work. Nongs and Juvele threatened the women demanding they come to work or lose their jobs. While many of the frightened women did board the truck - a second truck saw the back almost empty. Still there was NO PRODUCTION at the plant last night, as only a handful of women showed up for work. Makes one wonder what the purpose was of harassing the Maiwara women, who instead of working stood around doing nothing. Nice work RD Management Team you have proven you are exactly what everyone says you are.

Union members and angry workers are still upset over RD not paying them the minimum wage. Labor representations have said RD has been in violation of the law. But violating the law is nothing new for Celso and company. RD has begun recruiting new workers and the word is 78 had taken their medicals today. RD workers say they will NOT allow the new workers to proceed to work and that RD best reinstate the now 505 workers suspended. The suspended workers say they have had enough of RD’s treatment and will do what’s necessary to be treated fairly in their own country.

RD Recruits New People

The latest on the RD Tuna workers’ strike is that the company has started recruiting people to replace the 489 of its workers currently on suspension and depending on how things unfold maybe terminated. As of this morning they have recruited 78 new workers. This is a cop out by the company. It is a cheap way of getting around the issue of paying K2.29/hour because it will not be back paying its new workers. RD Tuna owes the 489 workers along with others who are not under suspension a total of K5-6million kina. This is the amount they will have to back pay these workers as the K2.29/hour should have taken effect as of January 2010.

This is totally unfair and should not be tolerated. The Department of Labour should now pull up its socks and deal with the issue. The government should intervene quickly because RD Tuna Fishing is getting away with this in recruiting new people.

The reason why the workers went on strike is genuine. They were not paid what they were supposed to by RD Tuna. RD Tuna should reinstate the 489 workers, pay them their new rate as well as back pay them. If we really have a government for the people in this country, RD Tuna should be penalized because it was at fault, it did not comply with Labour laws.

RD Tuna Security Force Women Inside RD Plant

Monday evening saw the night shift at RD Tuna support the day shift workers in calling for the the fair minimum wage of K2.29 per hour which RD has so far failed to pay their workers. Provincial Labor Officer Peter Neimani told the RD workers last week that indeed RD was in violation of the law by now paying the workers the K2.29 minimum wage. Neimani says RD must back pay the workers from 21 January to present.

The RD workers are also calling for the reinstatement of 489 workers who were under "Preventive Suspension". The 489 had there ID cards taken by RD security for no complaining that the minimum wage of K2.29 was not in their pay packets last week. RD once again lied saying the workers were not producing so they were being sacked.

Monday morning saw the workers walk out of RD in support of their fellow workers on the day shift. Night shift workers also supported the workers by not coming to work. A few of the workers did show up but decided NOT to go inside the plant. This upset Paul Vingu the RD Security Manager who forced the women to go inside the plant. As the women were forced in the plant - RD male RD workers were yelling at Vingu and the security team. A frightened Vingu called the police to come to RD. As the police arrived RD workers fled.

So this is what it comes to huh Pete Celso. Don't pay people their RIGHTFUL Minimum Wage, try to sack those who demand what is LEGALLY theirs, and have your cowardly Security Manager FORCE women in the plant.

Mr. Celso must be feeling quite proud of himself these days.

To the workers of RD FULL SUPPORT. Continue to Stand Up For Your Rights..

Empty RD Vehicles Bringing In Night Shift Workers Were Almost Empty as can be seen from the picture below:

RD Tuna Workers On Strike

About 1,700 workers of RD Tuna Fishing Ltd were on strike today in Madang Province. The workers are not happy simply because the company is not paying them K2.29 per hour which is minimum wage set by the government. While other similar fishing operations in the country are complying with this RD Tuna is not. The amount of K2.29 per hour was supposed to have taken effect as of January this year. The department of Labour was present today to address the crowd in front of the factory. The Community Relations Officer from RD Tuna as well as the police were there. RD Tuna promised to start paying K2.29 per hour effective as of August 6 2010.

RD Tuna has also suspended 489 of these workers. The RD Tuna Union now demands the following from the company:
1. reinstate 489 suspended workers; and
2. pay K2.29 per hour from August 6 on wards however also back pay all workers for the period January to August 5 period.


The President of the RD Tuna Union says all workers will NOT go back to work until the company meets their demands.

Polye to contest PM’s post

As reported below, the ruling party still remains as National Alliance. With new ministers on board, I don't think its going to make a difference. The same people are still in control and the same system is still in place PLUS more importantly who is controlling behind the scene HAS NOT CHANGED!

Source:

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

ACTING Prime Minister Don Polye has made known his intentions to contest the prime minister’s post.
Polye said he would make public his candidacy at the National Alliance party convention in the Jiwaka region next month.
He told reporters that there must be a strike of balance between all the other regions of the country, with Paias Wingti being the only prime minister from the region.
“Now is the time to give a chance to the highlands region,” Polye said.
He was speaking after announcing the ministerial portfolios of the new ministers last Thursday.
“With the new ministries, I do not think the Somare-Polye government will fall.
“The opposition cannot go and oust a government when you do not have a notice in parliament,” Polye said.
He said the opposition was trying to mislead the public and create instability within government.
The new cabinet ministers and their portfolios are Lucas Dekena (Lands), Francis Potape (Climate Change), Moses Maladina (Trade), Benjamin Poponawa ( Civil Aviation and Immigration), John Pundari (Mining), Timothy Bonga (Forest), Guma Wau (Culture and Tourism) and Fidelis Semoso (Bougainville Affairs).
The climate change, trade and immigration are new ministries.
“I ask the people of PNG, the public and private sectors to accord the new ministers their full support and cooperation.”
Polye said the new team would be the backbone of the new-look Somare-Polye government, stressing that the team would not be moved in any political horse trading.
He said the aim of the new group was to go into cabinet to discuss and review some of the controversial and much debated issues such as the amendments to the Ombudsman Commission Act.
He said other bills brought before parliament would also be reviewed by the new leaders.
“Nation building is not only to do with individuals with picks and shovels, plants and equipment or saws and hammers,’’ Polye said. “It is more so with the building of the culture in the mind and heart of hard work, strive, thrifty, industrious, honesty and justice in Papua New Guineans, children, women and men.
“A society of high standard in values and principles is what we must build,” Polye said.
Trade Minister Moses Maladina said the Ombudsman Commission Bill was introduced as a private member’s bill and he would also bring that up in cabinet for further disussion.

National Newspaper July 26th 2010