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STOP VACILLATING: FLP accuses FTUC's Felix Anthony and Daniel Urai of being FFP government apologists regarding ILO and workers rights

3/11/2015

10 Comments

 
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Fiji Trades Union Congress should stop being an apologist for the FF government on Fiji’s non-compliance with core ILO Conventions on workers’ rights, as portrayed by its national secretary Felix Anthony in today’s Fiji Times.

The case is absolutely clear: either Fiji is compliant with core ILO Conventions 87 and 98 or it is not. If it is not, then it must either become compliant or face the consequences- which in this case is an ILO Commission of Inquiry.

FTUC needs to understand that there is no longer any question of negotiation. Nor can there be any question of compromise on workers’ fundamental rights.

This issue has been dragging on since 2012 when the first complaint was lodged with the ILO on the Bainimarama regime’s breach of trade union and worker rights ie the case involving the arbitrary sacking of FTA President Tevita Koroi and the various cases of assault and harassment of trade union officials.
It came to a head in March this year when the governing body of the ILO gave Fiji until November to come up with a joint tripartite report on the Fiji situation.

FTUC knows full well that the government had 7 months in which to resolve the conflict. But it failed to act in good faith. Indeed, its actions were downright treacherous.

It revoked the offending Essential Industries Decree 35 of 2010 but repressive elements of the decree that violated ILO conventions on collective bargaining and freedom of association, were then incorporated into the amended Employment Relations Promulgation of 2015.

It has not removed provisions in the Political Parties Decree and the imposed 2013 Constitution that violate the rights of trade union officials to freedom of association by preventing them from forming political parties and barring them from contesting national elections.

At the 11th hour, the FF government is playing on the split within the trade union movement, to try and have its own way.

At this critical juncture unionists need to stand firm in protecting hard won workers’ rights. But Felix Anthony’s statement expressing confidence in the new Labour Minister (after being taken for a ride by two previous ministers) and his promise not to lobby or campaign for action if a Commission of Inquiry were appointed, is a sure sign of weak leadership. This sudden reversal of stance appears to have been hatched to marginalize FICTU.

FICTU’s Attar Singh, on the other hand, has made it clear that unless government addresses, in good faith, the issues at stake here, there is no deal. This message is not coming through from the FTUC leadership.
We sincerely hope, and trust, that trade union leaders will stand firm in putting the rights of workers and unions above their petty differences and personal agendas.

This is not the time to be vacillating!

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10 Comments
Dekho
3/11/2015 09:36:12 am

Look the Bainimarama Fiji First Theft Government does not give a phuck about the working class people and workers rights. It is a regime that is in the pocket of the big business, the capitalist pigs who financed the Fiji First Theft party's rigged election campaign.
FICTU and Attar Singh have a good handle on this rogue government's anti- worker ideology. It is a government that is NoT To Be Trusted to do the right thing by the workers. It is just playing political games to circumvent ILO action.

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Saamjhoo
3/11/2015 09:52:17 am

The Fiji First Theft Government has become so adept at taking so many people including trade Union leaders, church leaders, academic,and even international wallahs on a ride with their bullshit about their commitment to democratic principles, values and norms. And the tragedy is that people are fooled time and again and they have learned nothing. What a shame!

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Kavita
3/11/2015 10:14:56 am

This government has given assurances before but what came out of it? Why is the new set of assurances is expected to be different?

The last set of assurances was given in Geneva witnessed by the director ILO. But what did the workers of this country get - amended labour legislation with draconion decrees incorporated plus lots more unwaranted.

The governments own assessment is that the laws are compliant with the core conventions so why not just let ILO decide. This same minister Semi Koroilavesau was used by Khaiyum to try and block Biman Prasad from being elected Chair of PAC. He went beserk and unprofessional while at it.

How could he be trusted with his sweet talk? Did he not vote for the amendement bill when it was brought in parliament? Does he not belong to the Fiji Theft Party?

The workers of this country at this point need the ILO not the sweet talkers and con artists.

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Shut-Up FLP!
3/11/2015 10:59:50 am

If Felix feels comfortable with the new Minister of Labour - then Felix feels comfortable. Now who the hell is chor chodri to poke his nose where it doesn't belong?

FLP having lost every single seat - has no mandate to say anything on anything - specially if can't get rid of its CONVICTED Chor Leader like Chodri -who STOLE from the poorest of the Poor.

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Fiji First Party link
3/11/2015 08:28:36 pm

Just what part of " United We Stand - Divided We fall" are we having difficulty understanding...our dear Unionist?

Please our Unionists -Unite - for the sake of Fiji's poor, struggling, Workers - Unite!

Please put up a UNITED stand to the ILO against the worker onslaught and the draconian labour laws of this very anti-worker Government (which came into being via a rigged elections).

Please point it out to the ILO about - Bainimarama's BRIBE -unlawfully paid through the Workers pension fund - for Bainimarama and his family to see Rugby in London. Atrocious!

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chota don
3/11/2015 09:09:25 pm

it looks like Felix and Urai are sold. if this is true than they are selling the members right who have voted them in that position.

Look around how many things has happened where the ordinary labourers are not heard. This is the only chance and if we fail, we fail for good.

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Sochoo
4/11/2015 12:23:14 am

In Frank's Fiji the cane farmers are getting phucked and the workers are getting phucked and ulucou Dan Urai the trade Union leader is making silly divide and rule noises, instead of focusing on what is more - FOR THE WORKERS!

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Chiku
4/11/2015 02:00:26 am

Yeah you trade Union aristocrats stop masturbating on the workers of Fiji for your own gratification . If you can't handle the heat of standing up to the rogue Bainimarama government then do the honourable thing and step down .

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rajend naidu
4/11/2015 09:57:34 pm

Editor,
We learn from the Fiji Times article ' FICTU steadfast ' 5/11 that FICTU in its letter to the ILO director General stated " Government had rejected their proposals and instead made only minor and insignificant changes to the proposed JIR ( Joint Implementation Report )".
Why " only minor and insignificant changes "? Isn't the Bainimarama Government committed to workers rights and democratic norms as spelt out by the ILO?
FICTU has not found the Government's commitment convincing and has not signed the JIR as required by the ILO saying it would do injustice to the workers in the country.
Workers needed that kind of leadership to protect and advance their rights.
Sincerely,
Rajend Naidu

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chota don
5/11/2015 09:15:45 am

If Felix had that many support, he would have at least won some respected vote. He was so proud that all his members will vote. very few did vote.
that means he is out-dated by his own members.

is he taking a revenge of election result to punish his members?.
This is the time to put a stop and get what we members rights are.

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