Fiji: Ten thousand civil servants go on strike; union leaders threatened

On Thursday, over ten thousand civil servants went on strike in Fiji, joining the 1200 nurses already on strike.  They are protesting a 5% pay cut, the raising of retirement age, and the cancellation of an agreement made last year with the Quarese government.  This strike included teachers until Friday morning, when, in a move that surprised the other striking unions, they decided to return to work.  The government will dock the returning teachers two weeks worth of pay in retaliation.

Lead members of other striking unions have recieved death threats from the military, according to the account of Taniela Tabu.  Tabu is the general secretary of the Viti National Union of Taukei Workers.  He was taken from his home to the military barracks at 6am on Wednesday morning, was forced to strip, and was beaten.  Tabu was then informed that if he or the other union leaders were summoned to the barracks again, they would be killed.  Around 3pm. he was told that the allegations against him were that he had discredited the government in a public statement he had made on television the previous evening.  He was detained until late in the evening on Wednesday.

Tabu told Radio New Zealand International, “I want to just inform the United Nations, inform international union organizations and various embassies in Fiji: you know to take note of this in case one of us is killed or murdered.”

Interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama said that the strikes are a political ploy and that the interim government will not move from its current stance.  He is confident that government services will continue through the strike.

The Fiji Teachers Association president, Tevita Koroi, said that the union actions are legal because they are following the Trade Disputes Act.  This Act requires the Minister for Labour to call for compulsory arbitration to end the issue.  However, Bainimarama has instructed the interim Minister for Labour, Bernadette Rounds-Ganilau, to not order compulsory arbitration to end the strikes.

Please see also:
“Fiji labor leader arrested on eve of strike”  Pacific Magazine (01 August 2007)
“At least 10,000 Fiji public sector workers to strike from today”  Radio New Zealand International (01 August 2007)
“Fiji trade unionist fears for his safety”  Radio New Zealand International (01 August 2007)
“Strikes are political — says Fiji’s interim PM”  Radio New Zealand International (01 August 2007)
” ‘Death threats will not deter me’ ”  Fiji Times (02 August 2007)
“Teachers call off strike”  Fiji Times (03 August 2007)
“No pay for returning teachers”  Fiji Times (03 August 2007)
“PEU unaware of teachers’ move”  Fiji Times (03 August 2007)
“Come back to work, Bainimarama says”  Fiji Times (03 August 2007)

Author: Impunity Watch Archive