Trade unions in Fiji have begun a program of feeding union members who have
been laid
off because of the actions of the Speight terrorist coup.
There is little or no Social Security support available in Fiji so the Fiji
TUC is now offering basic
foodstuffs - and other support - to workers who have lost employment.
However the union movement in Fiji is convinced that if the Constitution and
Democracy is to be restored to
their island nation the international bans must continue.
" The Constitution and a Democratic civic society underpins basic rights
and freedoms for workers to protect
themselves and improve their pay and conditions.
" That's why we want to keep the pressure on," Felix Anthony, the
Fiji TUC National Secretary says.
A high level International Confederation of Free Trade Unions mission will
visit Fiji in the near future to
consider broadening the actions.
As well the UN- associated International Labour Organisation will send a mission
to Fiji shortly to investigate
breaches of the ILO Conventions.
The ILO is especially concerned about reports that the army is intimidating
and forcing sugarworkers to work
in the cane fields and the mills - and the ILO will also investigate the threats
against union officials.
The Fiji TUC has now put out an urgent international appeal seeking donations
to assist them with this
feeding program.
There are now more than 4000 workers who have lost their jobs, and this will
mount sharply over the next
few days and weeks.
Workers in Suva, Nadi and Lautoka and other Fijian urban centres are in the
need of food, as well as small
amounts of money to pay rent and small loans debts.
In Australia the Transport Workers Union have organised a major fund-raising
dinner next Tuesday at the
ACTU Congress.
Already the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, Asia-Pacific
Regional Organisation
(ICFTU-APRO) has donated several tens of thousands of dollars for this project.
The ICFTU will be asking other national union centres and key individual unions
to provide crucial financial
support to help over the next few weeks..
The ICFTU-APRO convened a meeting in Fiji on Monday, and has again called on
union bodies to take
action in support of the restoration of democracy.
At present most of the union bans involve the union movements from the nations
who are geographically
closest to Fiji - they are Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, New Zealand and Australia.
The international union delegation to Fiji attempted to visit the democratically
elected Prime Minister ,
Mahendra Chaudhry, who is being held hostage in the Parliamentary complex but
they were refused entry
to the area.
The delegation instead met with Mahendra Chaudhry's wife in Suva who gave them
a report on the
condition of her husband - and son - who were both roughed up soon after they
were taken hostage.
A senior ICFTU official, Tim Noonan, reported, after leaving Fiji, that conditions
in and around Suva remain
tense with numerous examples of intimidation, attacks on property and threats.
" Since the hostages were taken an extraordinary 800 automatic weapons
are floating around in people's hands.
" It is important to see that those weapons are returned to the army and
the police as part of the process for
a return to normalcy," Mr Noonan said.
For further information
Contact: Andrew Casey
Union: Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union
Phone: 9281 9511
Fax: 92821 4480
Email: Andrewc@lhmu.org.au
WWW: http://www.lhmu.org.au
http://www.labor.net.au/news/359.html
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last revision June 19, 2000