Fiji : Union membership rises amongst local government workers: FTUC
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Repeka Nasiko
Monday, August 08, 2016
FIJI Trades Union Congress national president Daniel Urai said it was promising to see trade union
membership in local governments increasing despite the absence of unions for almost three years because of the Essential National Industries (Employment) (ENI) Decree .
While opening the 47th Fiji Local Government Officers Association's (FLGOA) annual general meeting in Nadi over the weekend, he said despite workers being taken away, FTUC fought to restore them.
He said while there had been some relief, Government still needed to set up an arbitration court that could address the grievances and disputes between employers and workers.
Mr Urai said FTUC would continue to push for labour law reforms and give workers across the country a level playing field.
He thanked the officials of FLGOA for putting up the challenge and organising their workers and protecting the rights.
"The leadership of FLGOA has been doing a lot," he said.
"Workers should not give up easily as it is the testing time to the trade union solidarity.
"Trade unions in Fiji are at its rebuilding stage and it is viewed that workers need trade union for their protection."
The AGM was held at the Nadi Civic Centre where more than 150 officials from local governments across the country turned up to discuss issues concerning municipal council workers.
FLGOA president Rouhit Singh said the increasing number of members in the association indicated unity among local government workers.
Mr Singh said despite the challenges faced by trade unions, he was optimistic about the future of the association.
"The trade union struggle is still there and I'm sorry to state that we were not able to deliver to the fullest. In absence of trade union movement, the councils took advantage of the situation and penalised our workers from every angle and with magnitude," he said.