The ASU continues to support workers in Fiji who have faced assaults on their workplace rights since 2011. The latest case involves sugar workers whose wages have declined by 40% in recent years. After secret ballots, their union has called for strike action but has faced Government retaliation. Australian unions are standing in support of our Fijian counterparts.
Australian unions through the unanimous decision of ACTU Executive (see resolution in full below), support an ILO Commission of Inquiry into Fiji. We will also be raising awareness throughout the Australian community of the rights abuses going on in Fiji, not just of the sugar workers.
We encourage our supporters to sign on to the "Destination Fiji" website.
Further information about the Fijian situation for workers can be found on the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) website here: ITUC Denounces Threats and Intimidation in Fiji Sugar Mills.
ACTU Executive resolution - Solidarity with Fiji's Sugar Workers
30 July 2013
ACTU Executive denounces the latest threats and intimidation by the Fiji military regime and the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) against Fiji's sugar workers and the Fiji Sugar and General Workers' Union (FSGWU).
Workers in Fiji's sugar industry have seen a decline in real wages of more than 40 percent over the past seven years. Workers are now earning wages well below the poverty line and a great number live in extreme poverty with no employment or income for periods of six to eight months each year.
For the past two years, the FSGWU has consistently attempted to negotiate a wage adjustment with FSC as well as payment of overtime wages and other allowances which ceased two years ago in violation of the labour laws and collective agreement.
The Executive condemns the actions of the FSC in refusing to enter into any negotiations or even talk to the Union, in clear breach of the provisions of the Employment Relations Promulgation on Good Faith bargaining.
Last week FSC announced (without any negotiations taking place) a token 5.3 percent wage increase (approximately $8 a week). This is far short of the decline in real wages that has occurred.
The FSC's pre-emptive move failed.
In secret ballots held last week in compliance with the requirements of Fiji labour law, workers in Fiji's sugar industry voted to authorise the National Executive Committee of the Union to call strike action in the sugar mills. Clearly meeting the legal requirements for strike action, 67.5 percent of the union's membership voted with 90 percent of votes cast supporting strike action, despite:
- FSC management holding meetings at workplaces, threatening workers not to participate in the vote and telling workers that the government would be informed of those that did participate;
- The presence of police and military officers at polling stations in a blatant act of intimidation;
- Interference of the police in the ballot process at some polling stations; and
- Fiji's Attorney General attacking the leadership of the FSGWU and threatening to keep the mills operating irrespective of the workers' decision.
This latest move by the Attorney General can be interpreted to mean that the regime will mobilise the military as replacement labour and/or that the government will place the sugar sector under the scope of the Essential National Industries (ENI) Decree. The ENI Decree strips away almost all rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has repeatedly condemned these breaches.
Executive condemns these extremely serious violations of freedom of association and the Fiji regime's contempt for the rule of law and the interests of its own citizens. The latest thuggish behaviour follows previous beatings, arbitrary arrests, surveillance of unionists and wholesale gutting of the nation's labour laws.
Executive declares its full support for the Fiji Sugar and General Workers' Union and its solidarity with Fiji sugar workers. Australian unions will use all available means to bring the situation in Fiji to the attention of the international community. Reputable global buyers of Fiji sugar should want to know that workers' rights are respected.
The Executive remains committed to the ACTU campaign Destination Fiji: A holiday from workers' rights, and to escalation of the campaign in response to the regime's increased promotion of Fiji as a holiday destination.
Executive authorises the ACTU Officers to support fully the request by the International Trade Union Confederation for an ILO Commission of Inquiry into Fiji.
Passed unanimously