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IUF
Ready to Return to Fiji After Resort Owner Fails to Acknowledge Request
for Meeting
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 Felix
Anthony, Fiji Trade Union Congress General Secretary, and Timoci Naivaluwaqa,
General Secretary of the IUF-affiliated National Union of Catering,
Hospitality and Tourism Industries Employees, with an IUF representative
(not in photograph) on route to visiting dismissed Turtle Island Resort
workers on an island adjacent to the resort, 7 June 2003. |
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The story below is from a Fijian newspaper and is posted as general information. It does not necessarily reflect the policy or views of the IUF and its affiliates. |
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The International Union of Food and Allied Workers (IUF) has called on the management of Turtle Island Resort for permission to visit the island and inspect conditions there. IUF general [regional] secretary Ma Wei Pin said following his visit to an island adjacent to Turtle Island Resort, he heard reports that employees at the resort were not happy. Mr Wei Pin said before leaving for the island, the delegation sought approval from the management for a visit, but received no response. However, after he had left the country, resort director Richard Evanson, in reports to the media on June 8 said the delegation was invited to the island but failed to show up. Speaking from Australia, Mr Wei Pin said since Mr Evanson said the union delegation was invited to the island, he was willing to return to Fiji as soon as possible to inspect the conditions at Turtle Island. "I would like to give Mr Evanson the benefit of the doubt concerning the receipt of our fax," he said. "If Mr Evanson is sincere about being prepared to meet with me, I am prepared to come back to Fiji by the end of the month," he said. Mr Wei Pin said arrangements would be made as soon as Mr Evanson stood by what he said and publicly state he would meet him and a delegation from the Fiji Trade Union Congress and the National Union of Catering, Hospitality and Tourism Industries Employees. He said there were
outstanding issues that his team had to discuss with Mr Evanson about
the conditions of work and grievances of workers on the island resort. |
International
Union Wants to Visit Resort