As the Fiji Trades Union Congress continues with it’s plans to hold a nationwide protest next Friday and some affiliated unions even protesting before next Friday, FTUC National Secretary, Felix Anthony says the government needs to answer for any disruptions in any industry or to the historic Asian Development Bank meeting in Nadi next week.
When questioned by Fijivillage, Anthony says the union believes that the government is failing to act on commitments made with the FTUC, which remain unresolved for a few years.
He also says a one day protest will not have a crippling effect on the country.
FTUC has 35 affiliated member unions. These include unions representing civil servants, teachers, nurses, hotel workers, airline staff workers, flight attendants, transport workers, municipal council workers, university staff, sugar mill workers and factory workers.
They include:
1. Association of University of the South Pacific Staff
2. BR & WR Carpenter Group Staff Association
3. Colonial Insurance Agents Association
4. Communications, Mining, General Workers Union
5. Construction Energy & Timber Workers Union of Fiji
6. Federated Airline Staff Association
7. Fiji Electricity Workers Association
8. Fiji Flight Attendants Trade Union
9. Fiji Hotels and Allied Industries Employees Union
10. Fiji Local Government Officers Association
11. Fiji Longshoreman and Staff Association
12. Fiji Maritime Workers Association
13. Fiji Mine Workers and Staff Union
14. Fiji National University Workers Association
15. Fiji Public Service Association
16. Fiji Sugar Clerks & Supervisors Association
17. Fiji Sugar Tradesmen’s Union
18. Fiji Teachers Union
19. Fijian Affairs Board & Provincial Council Employees Association
20. Fijian Teachers Association
21. Hot Bread Kitchen Employees Trade Union
22. Itaukei land Trust Board Employees Association
23. Manufacturing, Commerce & Allied Employees Union
24. National Union of Factory & Commercial Workers (NUFCW)
25. National Union of Hospitality Catering Tourism Industries Employees
26. National Union of Municipal Workers
27. National Union of Trade Union Workers
28. National Union of Workers
29. PAFCO Staff Association
30. Staff Association of the University of Fiji
31. Sugar Milling Staff Officers Association
32. Suva City Council Staff Association
33. Transport Workers Union
34. University of the South Pacific –Permanent Hourly Paid, Intermediate & Junior Staff Union
35. Viti National Union of Itaukei Workers (VNUTW)
Felix Anthony says they expect all unions to be part of the nationwide protest and a review will be done next week.
He also says there are some informal talks however he does not want to reveal if talks are underway with the government.
All workers in these industries are not union members.
Earlier:
The Fiji Trades Union Congress has today announced that they will go ahead with the national protest on Friday, May 3rd however the umbrella union says some affiliated unions may have to start their protest earlier than next Friday.
In a statement, FTUC National Secretary, Felix Anthony says all FTUC affiliates will continue planning and preparing for the nationwide protest next Friday and a national protest march in Nadi next Saturday.
This will be done while the 52nd Asian Development Bank annual meeting takes place in Nadi next week.
Anthony says in the statement that they will continue raising their disappointment with government regarding the National Minimum Wage, Delay in Labour Law Reforms, Right to Strike, Vatukoula Strike, Unresolved Issues regarding the Federated Airlines Staff Association and Opposing the Imposition of Individual Contracts.
The FTUC National Secretary says that there are some unions that may need to go on protest earlier than May 3rd as FTUC says they have received information of massive layoffs.
Fiji Public Service Association General Secretary, Rajeshwar Singh says he will comment later.
We are also awaiting comments from the government.
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