FELIX ANTHONY on Attar Singh: 'It is time Attar Singh tells the workers what he has achieved for them and why they need to remain loyal to him instead of simply objecting to everything and anything...Obstructionist'

21/4/2016

"It is ironic that Attar Singh should make allegations that FTUC is poaching members from his affiliates. Just a few months ago, Mr. Singh when he was unemployed poached 150 members from his former Telecom and Mining Union to form a new Union in Vatukoula mines so that he can remain employed. Yet he chooses to claim poaching by FTUC. Records are available at the Registrar of Trade Unions Office."

"His so-called FICTU is his creation after losing 3 successive FTUC elections for National Secretary...The facts are that FTUC wishes to unite all Unions and Workers in Fiji for a number of years now. Talks have taken place on a number of occasions. However, Attar Singh has made demands that he be appointed Assistant General Secretary which cannot be accommodated. FTUC is a democratic Workers Organisation. He has chosen, as always to put his personal interest first before the larger interest of all workers in Fiji. He has also demanded that FTUC change its name just so that he can claim some sort of amalgamation between FTUC and FICTU. That can never happen." - Felix Anthony, FTUC

It is ironic that Attar Singh should make allegations that FTUC is poaching members from his affiliates. Just a few months ago, Mr. Singh when he was unemployed poached 150 members from his former Telecom and Mining Union to form a new Union in Vatukoula mines so that he can remain employed. Yet he chooses to claim poaching by FTUC. Records are available at the Registrar of Trade Unions Office.

The facts are that FTUC wishes to unite all Unions and Workers in Fiji for a number of years now. Talks have taken place on a number of occasions. However, Attar Singh has made demands that he be appointed Assistant General Secretary which cannot be accommodated. FTUC is a democratic Workers Organisation. He has chosen, as always to put his personal interest first before the larger interest of all workers in Fiji. He has also demanded that FTUC change its name just so that he can claim some sort of amalgamation between FTUC and FICTU. That can never happen.

Everyone in Fiji is aware that the Employment Relations Promulgation was the work of FTUC which at the time was objected to by Attar Singh. The recent restoration of workers and trade union rights was also the effort and work of FTUC. It is those rights that he can now work as a trade unionist if he wishes.

Attar Singh objected to the recent amendments to those labour laws as well. In light of the destructive and his choice of putting his personal interest before the interest of workers, FTUC has decided that it will approach workers directly to organise workers and unify the trade union movement. FTUC will not waste time to satisfy Attar's ego before uniting workers.

It is time Attar Singh tells the workers what he has achieved for them and why they need to remain loyal to him instead of simply objecting to everything and anything. His so called FICTU is his creation after losing 3 successive FTUC elections for National Secretary. The man's track record has been about dividing workers and still today religiously remains true to his record. It time to deliver to the workers of Fiji and that can only be done if workers are united. Indeed union means unity and one day we hope he understands this.

Felix Anthony
National Secretary

'Everyone in Fiji is aware that the Employment Relations Promulgation was the work of FTUC which at the time was objected to by Attar Singh.'

11 Comments

Chiku

21/4/2016 09:25:17 am

Not hard to see why the British colonial rulers were able to " divide and rule " so successfully. I don't know the background to the formation of breakaway trade unions but whatever the reason it reflects poorly on trade union leadership in the country. It the parent trade union body was run democratically - and that's the only way it is supposed to be run - then there should have been space for different thinking and mechanisms for conflict resolution to ensure the solidarity and integrity of unionism. Was the parent trade union body on a democratic footing? Or, was it run autocratically by the leaders and their cronies? Mahendra Chaudhry is one trade union leader who run things notoriously in the latter manner.
I suspect the rift in the trade unions in Fiji is now too far gone to repair.
So like the media in Fiji, those in power have very little to worry about when it comes to trade unions. Don't expect a Polish style Solidarity movement in Fiji to challenge the status quo. It won't happen.

EXPOSED!

21/4/2016 09:56:01 am

Fiji Sun has attended the Media Conference and are very neutral now,so Tomorrows headline will be 'FIJI's HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS,ETC EXPOSED BY USA'.
IF they exposed sick sheet scam but which rightfully as claimed by the doctor that since conjunctivitis epidemics was around he and everyone sees as nothing wrong,so what is preventing to make this blockbuster REALITY EXPOSED....LAAaMUuu FIJI SUN,HIDE IN WITH TAILS BETWEEN THE LEGS.

Socho

21/4/2016 10:06:27 am

Union brothers or comrades or whatever they are called displaying their union dirty linen for all to see. So much for union solidarity and fighting against a common foe - the ruling political elite and their capitalist cronies. Shame, shame, shame!

Rajend Naidu

21/4/2016 11:47:11 am

Editor,
Civil Society Doing What it's Meant to.
We read in LAHT 21/04 article ' NGOs Denounce Arbitrary Arrests, Abuse of Rights Activists in Mexico' that a group of non government organisations denounced a pattern of arbitrary arrests, and abusive treatment of rights activists and urged government to heed UN resolution in five of these cases dating back to 2013.
Yesica Sanchez deputy director of the Consortium of Parliamentary Dialogue and Equality said it was regrettable the international institutions had to intervene and denounce the arbitrary arrests, irregularities in judicial proceedings and other human rights violations instead of domestic agencies such as the National Human Rights Commission or CNDH, or Mexico's equivalent of an Ombudsman office.
On the contrary she said CNDH and similar state level agencies on some occasions " discredited" and " stigmatised " political prisoners.
The NGOs gave the example of indigenous rights attorney Librado Banos , who lost an eye and has 30 per cent vision in the other eye due to blows he sustained during his arrest and interrogation.
Now these NGOs have maintained the integrity and credibility of their civil society status by doing what's right for people subjected to abuse of state power.
They are a source of inspiration for others.
By contrast it's a real shame when domestic agencies charged with the responsibility of protecting the citizen against state abuse of power abdicate that responsibility.
Sincerely,
Rajend Naidu

INJUSTICE

21/4/2016 01:12:42 pm

The main issue between Attar Singh and Felix Anthony is not about trade union but more about their political views. Attar Singh is stauch NFP supporter while power hungry Felix was an arden Labour Supporter but was chased by super power hungry chaudhry, Felix formed people democratic party.

On paper both are power hungry unionist however Attar Singh is more qualified than Felix. The reason I say this is that I have read all decisions handed over by Employment Tribunal and Employment Court and Attar Singh's name appear in many case as advocate and he also won many cases however even though Felix Anthony's union name appear in court record but Felix have never fought any case as advocate and his name doesnt appear in court records likewise FPSA's general secretary Rajeshwar Singh. Rajeshwar Singh earns $100,000 plus with BMW car but never pressured government on workers right. In my personal view I support neither of them but have small amount of respect in favour of Attar Singh whereas Felix Anthony was one corrupt FNPF board memeber who lost his dignity by selling labour rights and bending to kai.

Chiku

21/4/2016 09:58:37 pm

Thank you for your insight into the great divide between the two Union wallahs. I am not surprised that politics has caused their separation and antagonism. And I am not surprised to know Felix is power hungry. Some of Chaudhry's megalomania must have rubbed off on him. Felix has always strutted about with the arrogance of a trade union aristocrat. He would have made a good politician of the arsehole kind. Attar is more quietist but apparently more effective in delivering on his job. People like that are not always successful in a world conditioned like ours. It's the Felix, the Khaiyum's, the Bainmaramas who are because they have no qualms about playing dirty.

21/4/2016 10:23:49 pm

The current gen union leaders - felix anthony, attar singh, agi deo. These can never make a difference in lives of workers. They are not concerned about them. They dont jave workers at heart. Chaudhry though a crook and a multimillionare would never sell workers. But these ones sell workers in each stride.

Pita

22/4/2016 12:33:24 am

Attar Singh and Felux are Siamese twins, both have the same DNA but as with all twins one is better than the other and it has to be Attar who is the one with a heart, the better one of the two. Only the legitimacy of the FTUC and its recognition by the ILO and the employees federation that has given Felux some ascendancy over Attar. Felux and his mate Daniel Urai, by virtue of their stranglehold over the FTUC, represented workers on the board of the FNPF for years and got paid thousands and thousands of dollars in sitting fees. They benefitted from the largesse. Attar, on the other hand, did not benefit financially from state recognition to the extent that Felix and Dan have. We have a system in Fiji now where the state rewards loyalty. Felux does not need to accept workers from the SUva City Council Union as they is in breach of the fundamental principle of trade union solidarity irrespective of the nature of his relationship with its leaders and Attar Singh.

22/4/2016 01:54:20 am

All of them the same DNA. Crooks. The law must ban them from participation in any political party other than one which is established by vote of 75% of all union members. Not one where a handful of members come to feast on palau decide.

Samjha

23/4/2016 12:18:18 am

Please understand Felix has a phallus complex so he can't help himself acting the dominant ape.

Samjha

24/4/2016 04:37:01 am

Attar Singh's achievements can't compare with Felix Anthony's because Felix's achievements are driven by the phallus complex - the need for superiority, for dominance.

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FELIX ANTHONY on Attar Singh: 'It is time Attar Singh tells the workers what he has achieved for them and why they need to remain loyal to him instead of simply objecting to everything and anything...Obstructionist'

'Everyone in Fiji is aware that the Employment Relations Promulgation was the work of FTUC which at the time was objected to by Attar Singh.'

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