THE NATIONAL
PAPUA NEW gUINEA
AIR Niugini employees and its management have resolved to suspend a staff reduction exercise which threatened to send 250 workers home.
The company revealed its plan in a circular last month to staff, saying it was part of a cost-cutting exercise under its value enhancement programme.
Reconsider
Workers asked the company to reconsider its decision. After weeks of negotiation between the National Airline Employees Association and management, they agreed to suspend the plan.
They agreed that the staff reduction exercise would be implemented in a manner which “maintains staff morale and performance at the highest levels possible”.
The management informed union executives that it would occur at all levels throughout the airline.
It will be implemented principally by a freeze on recruitment, natural attrition, retirement and a voluntary redundancy programme.
Air Niugini said compulsory redundancies would be a last resort measure only.
A joint statement said the “cooperative approach on industrial and related issues the airline and the union have agreed to will ensure the significant revenue reductions arising from circumstances beyond the airline’s control are addressed in the most effective way possible.2014.
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