
Issue No 56		02 June 2000

LaborNET	Ask Neale	Tool of the Week

News

Carr Asked to Act on Fiji Crisis

By Andrew Casey

NSW Premier, Bob Carr, has been asked to shutdown immediately all assistance to the Fijian public service because the new Military Government, within days of taking over power, has started to implement a policy of racial preferment.

The Military Government has ordered that all Fijian overseas appointments be terminated, and that only indigenous Fijians be allowed to represent the Pacific Island nation in overseas missions, according to the Fijian public sector union.

On a different issue the Fiji TUC has written to Commodore Bainimarama about a 'disgusting incident ' this morning when twelve thugs were freed by local police.

The police were stood over by the brother of the Commissioner of Police and told to release the twelve criminals who were freed and taken back to the Parliamentary complex in the back of a military truck.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the island from the capital, Suva, a major pro-Democracy, pro-Labour rally will be held near Nadi.

The rally is in Viseisei Village,at 2pm tomorrow, and has been organised by Western Fiji high chiefs to show that the indigenous Fijian community backs the legitimate constitutional government - not George Speight.

Importantly this part of Fiji was the home base of the first elected - and deposed - Labour leader, Timoci Bavadra and is now the region from which the current constitutional PM, Mahendra Chaudry, comes from.

Chaudry, and the other members of his government in the Parliamentary complex, have now been held hostage for two weeks.

The Fiji Public Service Association (PSA) sent urgent faxes this afternoon to the NSW Premier, Bob Carr, and a range of other government leaders in the South Pacific area, asking that they immediately suspend all technical assistance and support to their country.

PSA General Secretary, Rajeshwar Singh, said the public sector was continuing to provide normal support , and following the directions of, the Military Government.

" Our members have given support even though they understand this is an unlawful and unconstitutional overthrown of a constitutional government," Mr Singh said.

However members were very angry, Mr Singh said, because within hours of taking over the reins of power Commodore Bainimarama, made a series of public sector appointments which broke all the Fiji Public Service Commission rules of non-racial preferment.

" The independent Public Services Commission has been terminated and thus there is no restraint possible on the implementation of these policies."

TUC Secretary, Felix Anthony, has written to the Commodore to protest the Central Police Station incident in Suva this morning.

In his letter Mr Anthony says: "Major Savua arrived at the Central Police Station and angrily shouted at the police officers and threatened that he would get the guns from the Parliamentary complex and 'fix' the officers concerned.

" The morale of the Police Service is indeed very low and we have been informed that they have just closed up all files, so to speak, and are rightly of the view that all their efforts in maintaining law and order are in vain.

" The question goes begging is what Authority Major Savua has, as a dishonourably discharged army officer, to issue instructions to the Police and to use the Royal Fiji Military Forces truck," Mr Anthony asks in his letter to the Commodore.

Major Savua is the brother of the head of the police service. Early in this crisis he dramatically marched a group of uniformed, but unarmed, Army territorials through the front gate of the Parliamentary complex in full view of the international media and announced their support for George Speight.

There are now increasing reports of widespread economic collapse in Fiji.

The Fiji Ministry of Education has ordered that all schools remain closed for another week. Students already have been home almost one month.

They had just returned to school after their first term holidays when four days later the schools shut down after George Speight and his armed gunmen took Prime Minister Chaudhry and his government hostage.

In the Western part of the main island of Fiji, Viti Levu, the largest garment factory Ghim Li Fashion, which employs more than 1000 people, is facing major problems with the current crisis, according to Fiji radio reports.

Ghim Li says it is set to lose about $2 million if it fails to export two shipments to the United States, the company's main export market.

The US is expecting one shipment this month and another next month. With the current situation, the company doubts if it will be able to ship the goods in time.

The major problem is workers not turning up to work since the People's Government was taken hostage at gunpoint and the subsequent riots in Suva two week ago.

Curfew restrictions imposed by the military are also not of much help.

The factory says that several of its workers could be laid off in the worst case scenario or if things don't improve quickly.

Fiji's garment industry, which employs 19,000 people, was developed in the late 1980s and early 1990s. With Fiji facing a major economic downturn after the 1987 military coups, the then Interim Administration gave incentives, including 13-year tax free holidays, to garment firms to set up in Fiji and help create mass employment.

Elsewhere at least 300 villagers have also become victims of the current political crisis affecting the country.

Local handicraft company Sandollars that employed the villagers has laid them off.

The company exported coconut oil, soaps and creams.

The villagers earned $8000 a month supplying coconut products and other items to the company.

Many companies around the country are retrenching workers as the crisis continues.

The ACTU's Fiji Crisis Committee this afternoon heard update reports of the effectiveness of the bans on Fiji being imposed by Australian unions and other international unions.

All the Australian bans are now in place and holding.

The ship, Direct Kookaburra, arrived in Sydney from Fiji today and unloaded 30-40 boxes which have been stockpiled. The ship will leave Sydney to go back to Fiji with nothing on board.

In Melbourne on Monday, the Kapitan Tasman, will arrive on Monday. Again the cargo will be unloaded but stockpiled on the docks.

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  Issue 56 contents

Interview: When the War is Over
Teachers Federation chief Sue Simpson has just come through the industrial dispute of a lifetime. But where to now for her members?

Politics: The Beazley Manifesto
Read the full transcript of Kim Beazley's Fraser Lecture develiered this week, where he unveiled Labor's new industrial relations platform.

Unions: Dudded on the Dock of the Bay
Until a few weeks ago Allan and Beverley Crelley had never ever heard of SERCO the big London multinational that specialises in winning contracts from governments committed to outsourcing their workers.

History: The Long March for Justice
Against the backdrop of the Walk for Reconciliation across the Sydney Harbour Bridge that took place last Sunday, it is worthwhile recognising that trade unionists were actively promoting the issue decades ago.

International: UK Unions Turn the Corner
Union membership is on the rise for the first time in 20 years, indicating an early response to union recognition legislation set to come into effect next month.

Work/Time/Life: Flexible Clerks Save Hours
The Australian Services Union has successfully blocked an attempt by wholesaler Davids Limited to force clerical staff at the company's Blacktown office from flexible working hours to a standard 38 hour week.

Review: Who Really Won the War?
It might be being pulped for a reference to serial-suitor Peter Costello, but 'Waterfront' has sparked some lively debate about our recent industrial history.

Satire: Gosper's New Torch Role
A week after he was excluded from the Olympic torch relay as a result of public criticism, Kevan Gosper has been reinstated by SOCOG President Michael Knight for a special project.

» Long Service Leave Push for Short-Term Workers

» Carr Asked to Act on Fiji Crisis

» Major Blow to Government Outsourcing

» Beazley Blocks Contracts as Reith Hits New Wall

» Carr Makes Formal Offer on Olympics Pay

» Surfing Carnivals Highlights Beach Threat

» Mail Stopped Over Junk Deal

» CBA Staff To Strike Over Queues and Abuse

» Women's Bureau to Stay in DIR

» Joy's Winter of Discontent

» Advocate Pushes Pattern Bargaining

» Nike Versus The Workers

» New Safety Laws A First in Australia

» Workers March for Reconciliation

» Labour Movement Mourns Loss of Neil Marshall (11th June 1943 - 31st May 2000)