Executives of Fiji Islands Council of Trade Unions and Fiji Trades Union Congress met yesterday following ongoing discussions between the two national workers’ unions and decided to unite.
FTUC National Secretary Felix Anthony says the parties discussed the unity process and agreed that a follow‑up meeting will be held on the 23rd October in Suva to make the final preparations to merge the two organizations.
Anthony says the leaders of both organizations recognize the huge challenge that face workers in Fiji with what they term an openly hostile Government that only seeks to weaken Trade Unions.
They say the government has unilaterally imposed new conditions of employment in the Education Sector, Medical services and in other Government owned entities.
The two unions also say that trade unionists are not allowed to participate in politics or even be a member of a political party, which they say is a clear denial of their fundamental human rights.
Anthony says a National Council Meeting of FTUC will be held on Saturday, 27th October where all affiliates of FICTU will be welcomed back into FTUC.
Meanwhile former FICTU National Secretary, Attar Singh is now a provisonal candidate for the National Federation Party.
