SUVA (FM96/PINA) — The visit by Fiji trade unionists to Australia to gather support for sanctions by Australian unions is extremely dangerous, the Fiji Employers Federation said.
FEF President David Aidney said actions by Fiji Trades Union Congress General Secretary Felix Anthony and Fiji Public Service Association General Secretary Rajeshwar Singh will affect future employment of thousands.
Singh said Australian unions will place sanctions against Fiji as early as this coming week in support of the Public Service Association in its dispute with Airports Fiji Ltd.
Australian Council of Trade Unions President Sharon Burrow said Australian unions supported the sanctions, which she said would go ahead.
Under Fiji’s public enterprise reforms, Airports Fiji operates Nadi and Nausori international airports. The Public Service Association has been locked in a bitter dispute with the company over union recognition, staffing levels and conditions.
Aidney said Australian union sanctions will affect tourism. There will be a rapid flow on effects through the tourist industry, first to the airlines, then to airport and land transport, hotels and others, he said.
If the sanctions are imposed, both air and shipping services are expected to be affected, he said.
Speaking from Australia, Singh said the Transport Workers Union of Australia is expected to be the first to impose sanctions.
Singh said they will continue the sanctions until the Airports Fiji dispute is resolved.
Threats of getting bans against the country by the Fiji Public Service Association is tantamount to treason, Irami Mataraivula, minister for public enterprises and public sector reform, said.
Union leaders should be ready to face the consequences of their actions, he warned in a government statement. Matairavula said the union refused to sign an agreement that would have resulted in the granting of voluntary recognition to it by the airport company.
The agreement, he said, would have allowed Airports Fiji to immediately begin negotiations with the union, as representative of members employed by the company.
