Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Proposed strike in Solomon Islands stopped

Posted at 23:17 on 18 November, 2009 UTC

The proposed strike action announcement by the Solomon Islands Public Employees Union has ground to a halt following a high court ruling.

The Solomon Islands High Court yesterday ruled all essential services were in breach of the Essential Services Act, which clearly stipulates no member of the said services can go on strike under any condition.

The court ruling follows the announcement by SIPEU General Secretary, Paul Belande on Tuesday night that the strike would include members of the essential services.

However it became obvious the next morning that most public servants were at work.

Mr Belande revealed in the announcement, that a agreement was reached by SIPEU members to go on strike in relation to a demand for an increase in salaries, which was not awarded by government.

The last strike action notice was averted when government took the claims to the Trades Disputes Panel two months.