
Issue No 55		26 May 2000

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Fiji Faces International Union Blockade

- Andrew Casey

Australian unions are ready to blockade Fiji should the terrorists kill off democracy in that country, ACTU President Sharan Burrow said today.

The trade union movement around the world has now put into place plans which will isolate Fiji, once a request for solidarity action has been received from the Fiji TUC leadership.

" Fijian shipping, airlines, mail, banking and other services would be hit by a union blockade, Ms Burrow said.

" When the Fiji Trade Union Congress pushes the button, then so will we," Ms Burrow said after a telephone hook-up of key Australian unions.

But the tragedy of Fiji is being played out slowly and painfully before thee eyes of the world while we wait to see if the President of Fiji, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, buckles into the demands of the people who are trying to hijack democracy.

The Secretary of the Fijian TUC, Felix Anthony, has asked for disciplined support and solidarity from unions and their members around the world.

The union movement is holding Ratu Mara to his word that despite the terrorism of George Speight he will not abolish the Constitution which came into play in 1997.

While the Chiefs might have recommended doing away with the Constitution the President does not have to accept this recommendation.

Mr Anthony said today from Fiji that he appreciates the regular contact that the ACTU has kept with him this week.

ACTU President Sharan Burrow rang Felix Anthony on Thursday night to personally brief him on Australian union strategies to provide support when requested.

" This constant contact is important and truly appreciated, the discipline the ACTU is showing and the backing you are giving is valued," Mr Anthony said.

The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) has organised crucial support from key unions around the world - but again it will only be activated once the Fiji TUC asks for solidarity help.

Fiji demonstrations in Australia

A number of different protests are being organised for this weekend in defence of Fijian democracy

In Sydney tomorrow people will march to the office of Federal MP, Roger Price. to deliver a petition asking for Australia's help in resolving the crisis. The march will start at Rooty Hill RSL Club at 10am.

In Melbourne there will also be a march for democracy on Sunday starting at 11am. It will begin from the General Post Office in Bourke Street and end at the Parliament House.

Earlier this week the NSW Labor Council co-sponsored a huge demonstration in Sydney which blocked off the streets outside the offices of PM Howard.

At this protest Labor Council Secretary, Michael Costa, read out a statement from Felix Anthony in Fiji. The statement, which got a huge roar of support, underlined the commitment to democracy of the trade union movement in that country.

   For the latest on the Fiji crisis see Labourstart

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  Issue 55 contents

Interview: The University of Rupert
National Tertiary Education Union president Dr Carolyn Allport on News Corp's move into tertiary education and the Universitas 21 experiment.

International: The Unionist Who Sparked a Coup
Workers Online's Fiji expert Andrew Casey profiles one of the men at the centre of the crisis, detained PM Mahendra Chaudry

Unions: The Call to Action
The Australian Services Union is leading the push into the call centre industry. But winning these new workplaces is a major challenge.

Politics: Workplace Gladiators
Peter Reith as Russell Crowe? That's the image Labor IR spokesman Arch Bevis conjured up in a frecent address to the Industrial Relations Society.

History: How to be a Good Unionist
It's 1917, WWI rages and federal public servants are given these rules on how to dischare their responsibility as members.

Legal: The Price of Solidarity
Intimidation, threats and even murder still await many workers who attempt to organize in a number of countries around the world, says a new ILO report.

Review: Inconvenient History
In may be cold comfort to Republicans, but the vote for Federation was every bit as tempestuous as this collection of articles shows.

Satire: World Bank Caves In
In a victory for Seattle protestors, international monetarists have decreed that global utopia to begin immediately.

» Fiji Faces International Union Blockade

» Workers Return to Dump Reith's Third Wave

» Budget Raises More Questions than Answers

» Teachers Finally Achieve Satisfaction

» FairWear Campaign Targets Uniforms

» Rio Tinto Appeals for Industrial Peace

» Beer Hike Sparks Worker Concerns

» Libs Fail to Block Family Friendly Laws

» No Joy For 'Back Door' Pete

» Angry Truckies Converge on Border

» Unions Dues Test Case Looms

» Why Solidarity Messages Mean Something

» Radio Free East Timor Rocks

» The Soapbox

» Sport

» Trades Hall

» Tool Shed

» Neale's Spot On!

» Silence on the GST

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