GPPOL Workers Association Lashes Out at Recent Complaints

The Guadalcanal Plains Palm Oil Workers Association has lashed out at recent complaints by supposed employees of GPPOL concerning work conditions at GPPOL.

In a letter to the Solomon Times, the GPPOL Workers Association stated that the articles paint a picture that is contrary to the truth, claiming that they were misleading.

The Association, in their letter, said that they want to set the record straight and that is the workers of GPPOL have established their own in-house union called the Guadalcanal Plains Palm Oil Workers Association (GPPOWA). "GPPOWA has been established and registered and the membership is now increasing rapidly," the Association writes.

"GPPOWA feels that it can best serve the welfare and rights of GPPOL employees, as it is on the ground and living in the same community as the employees."

The GPPOL association further stated that the allegations may be related to a recent ruling by the Trade Disputes Panel, in favour of the company, over a recognition case with the Solomon Islands National Union of Workers (SINUW).

The Association claimed that the decision states that "the union (SINUW) does not have the right to claim recognition from the company at this stage, as it does not have the substantial support of the company employees".

Attempts to contact the Solomon Islands National Union of Workers (SINUW) for comment were unsuccessful.