
Issue No 69		01 September 2000

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News

Australian Unions Keep Spotlight on Fiji

By Andrew Casey

Sharan Burrow, the ACTU President, is flying out on Saturday as the head of a five person Australian mission to Fiji to assess the current situation.

The delegation is visiting at the inviation of the Fiji TUC's Felix Anthony who is organising meetings with unions and community groups.

They are also hoping to see the refugee centre at Lautoka and the Tai Levu area north of Suva where dairy farmers have had their houses and farms burnt out.

Other members of the mission include Tony Sheldon, from the Transport Workers Uunon , Paddy Crumlin from the Maritime Union of Australia, Paul Slape of the Australian Services Union

and Susan Hopwood of the Australian Education Union.

Meanwhile...

ICFTU backs fight for the restoration of democracy in Fiji

'The International Community should refuse to recognise the interim government in Fiji and should demand the reinstatement of the 1997 Constitution', Mahendra Chaudhry, Fiji Prime Minister, today told a high-level delegation from the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) in Brussels.

Mr Chaudhry was visiting the ICFTU Headquarters in Belgium as part of a tour to promote international support for the restoration of democracy in Fiji.

The ICFTU, which co-ordinated an international trade union campaign to secure the release of the democratically-elected government is now fully behind its local affiliate, the Fiji Trade Union Congress (FTUC), to urge the reinstatement of the 1997 Constitution.

The ICFTU is the world's largest trade union grouping with affiliates in 145 countries. Its members include the trade union centres of Australia and New Zealand, which play a major role in the area.

"Any solution to the Fiji crisis must be found within the framework of the 1997 Constitution", said Eddy Laurijssen, Assistant General Secretary of the ICFTU, following his talks with Mr Chaudhry.

The ICFTU said it would use all avenues to make sure international institutions and governments "are kept on the right tracks" concerning democracy in Fiji. The ICFTU also expressed concern about violation of workers' rights and discrimination in Fiji and said it was in daily contacts with the UN's International Labour Organisation (ILO) concerning developments there. For the ICFTU, trade union rights can never be fully safeguarded if a country is not governed in a democratic and constitutional way.

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Issue 69 contents

Interview: Global Warrior
International unions have won a game of political football with soccer`s hierarchy - and Aussie Tim Noonan is behind the victory.

History: King of Broken Hill
John Shields recounts the colourful life of William Sydney 'Shorty' O'Neil (1903-2000) and his place in the rich history of a remarkable town.

International: History Repeats At Firestone
More than 8,000 workers, members of the United Steelworkers of America (USWA), are set to strike at nine Bridgestone/Firestone plants in the United States at midnight tonight.

Politics: The Past We Need To Understand
In his Vincent Lingiari Memorial Lecture Malcolm Fraser retraces the path of Australian race relations and laments the terrible impasse we've reached.

Unions: Economic Democracy
Sharan Burrow on making Working Australia's money talk and reforming corporate culture for the 21st Century.

Satire: Another windscreen washer joins millionaire list
SYDNEY, Monday: After just a year in his new job, John Samuels has added his name to the burgeoning list of enterprising Australians who have made their fortunes by offering partial car-washing facilities in convenient inner city road-side locations.

Review: No Long Term
Much political commentary is about the global marketplace and the use of new technologies as hallmarks of the new capitalism. Richard Sennett investigates another dimension of change: new ways of organising time, particularly working time.

» New Benchmark In Bank Greed

» Olympics Deal Sparks Soccer Ball Victory

» Two Day Strike Hits BHP Mines

» Leightons, SOCOG Tremble Before Haka

» Hilton Hotels Limp As Strike Bites

» Wran Lends Boffins A Hand

» ACTU Meets Joy

» Barracks Workers Put The Pinch On Local MP

» Olympic Win For Taxi Drivers

» Australian Unions Keep Spotlight on Fiji

» Staff Eye Telstra Prize

» Dice Loaded Against American Workers

» NZ Union Federations Heal Split

» Pressure Mounts On Nike To Live Olympic Ideal