
Issue No 76		03 November 2000

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News

Fijian Workers Fear Economic Meltdown

By Andrew Casey

Fiji Hotel workers are worried that this latest coup attempt will further harm the island nation's economy and democratic institutions.

Tim Naivaluwaqa, the general-secretary of the Fiji Hotel Workers' Union, says already one-in-four of his union members' have lost their jobs since the May 19 takeover of the Fiji Parliament by the anti-democratic gang led by George Speight.

" Many other Hotel workers are having to work shorter hours or have had to accept cuts in pay," Tim said.

Official Fiji Government data shows that Hotel Workers were the worst hit by the May 19 coup attempt - with more than 2,500 losing their jobs.

" Our union is concerned that this latest action of the Army's so-called Counter Revolution Warfare Unit will have a further serious adverse impact on an already crippled tourism industry," Tim Naivaluwaqa, said.

Mr Naivaluwaqa made the comments when his sister hotel union in Australia, the LHMU, made contact with him to express solidarity with his members who continue to suffer because of a crisis not of their own making.

Fiji's union leadership moved quickly to condemn the latest coup attempt with the Fiji Trades Union Congress (TUC) leader, Felix Anthony, telling local media that innocent people would again have to pay for this latest crisis.

The TUC leader criticised the Army leadership for releasing from prison last week some of the very soldiers who have now attempted the second coup in a year.

" This was bound to happen. The way these people were handling the whole situation indicated that something like this would eventuate," Felix Anthony said.

Mr Anthony said the country would suffer even more, after it had recuperated from the recent crisis, from the wrong decision taken on the release of the soldiers.

" The economic and social health of our nation is once again jeopardised.

" The unions had warned the military that releasing these soldiers and taking them back was not a good ideas. It was a bad decision on their part."

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Issue 76 contents

Interview: Withering On The Vine
Cooking shows and 'Bugs fucking to Mozart' may become the staple diet on our ABC as news and current affairs face a war of attrition. Quentin Dempster gives Workers Online an insider's view of our endangered national broadcaster .

US Election: Sugar Candy Politics
Like in everything else, Americans like their politics sugar coated. A Nation in denial, they are happier maintaining the fantasy that the world is a fine and dandy place says Michael Gadiel.

US Election: George W. Bushwhacked by Texas Truth Squad
The Texas Truth Squad are a group of Texan union members travelling the US on a crusade to expose the Republican presidential nominee as a corporate rogue who in his time as Governer proved himself as an enemy of the worker.

History: Federation and the Labour Movement
National celebrations will mark the Centenary of Federation next year. The labour movement's opposition to Federation at the referenda held around the Australian colonies in 1899 will attract less commemoration, although the republicans of 1999 might have benefited from reflection on the causes of working class discontent one hundred years earlier says Stuart Macintyre.

International: Unions Mac Their Day
McDonald's - the biggest employer of young people around the world - is increasingly becoming the target of union recognition campaigns, backed by human rights groups concerned about the fast food chains practices in countries such as Indonesia, China, Russia, Canada and Germany.

Satire: Wiranto�s charity album inspires genocidal maniacs everywhere
Indonesia�s favourite former strongman, General Wiranto, has recently decided to record an album of love songs. Entitled To You My Indonesia, Wiranto�s album has already sold 8,000 copies and is raising money for refugees.

Review: What About the Workers?
A big, gruff bloke in a blue singlet, on strike or just not working, and generally being difficult. That's the trade unionist for you. Barry Cohen's new book What About the Workers? shows this image may have a bit of truth about it, but he would be telling a few good yarns while he was standing about.

» Unions Seek Community Backing For $28 Pay Rise

» Retailers Renege On Fairwear Code

» Senate Slams State Sector AWAs

» TAB Bosses' Gamble Threatens Cup Day

» Fijian Workers Fear Economic Meltdown

» Outsource or Perish Says Government

» Say Sorry, Ministers

» Union Women Set The Pace

» Toxic Foreign Flag Ship Threatens Reef

» Push For 'Casuals' Parental Leave

» Joy Counts Cost Of Scabs

» White Boys Talk About Black History

» Senate Asks ANU To 'Please Explain' Archive Cuts