| (above)
The National Union of Catering, Hospitality and Tourism Industries Employees
(NUCHTIE) organised a protest at Turtle Island in September 2003. The
placards at state, "Turtle Staff Association is a Sell Out of Workers'
Rights and Freedoms", " Stop the Rot, Treat Us Fairly",
"Stop the Intimidation and Harassment of the Indigenous Community"
and "Richard Give Us Our Constitutional and Basic Rights to Join
Free and Independent Unions.". |
| On
November 7, 2003, the owners of the Turtle Island Resort were to face
a Fijian Court in regard to failing to comply with a compulsory recognition
order issued by the Ministry of Labour. Workers at the super-luxurious
resort island have faced a long struggle to win trade union recognition
through the National Union of Catering, Hospitality and Tourism Industries
Employees (NUCHTIE), an IUF affiliate. However to the surprise of
the union, it turns out the Fijian Ministry of Labour has withdrawn
the case against Turtle Island. Despite repeated requests for information,
the Ministry of Labour has offerred no comment or explanation, raising
serious concerns about the transparency of decision making within
the Ministry. A story carried in the Fijian press detailing this incident
appears below. It does not necessarily reflect the policy or views
of the IUF and its affiliates. |
|
Case
Withdrawal Raises Eyebrows
Fiji
Sun
24 November 2003
The withdrawal of a case against Turtle Island Resort owner Richard
Evanson is raising a few eyebrows in the hotel industry union who is
demanding that the Prime Ministeer Laisenia Qarase should step in and
call for an investigation.
The
National Union of Hospitality, Catering and Tourism Industries Employees
says that there is something 'fishy about the withdrawal'.
|
|
|
NUCHTIE
organised protest, Turtle Island, September 2003.
|
|
Union
General Secretary Timoci Naivaluwaqa said initially Mr Evanson was charged
by the ministry for not complying with the Compulsory Recognition (No.
3) Order of 2003 and is contrary to section 12(1) and 12(3) of the Trade
Unions (Recognition) Act 1998. The order was issued on January 22, 2003
and it came into force on November 7, 2003.
"Todate, Mr Evanson has continued to ignore the Order and the Ministry
cannot do anything about it which is a shame, really."
"The case was set for mention on November 7, 2003 and the Union
was advised that the ministry had withdrawn its case, which is of great
concern," Naivaluwaqa said.
He added that the Union had written to the Ministry on November 11 to
enquire about the reasons for the withdrawal and todate there has been
no positive response from the ministry.
The unions strongly believes that there are very strong grounds for
a thorough investigation into the withdrawal of this case, the union
general secretary added.
"Firstly, the officer in charge of the case had been sent away
on an overseas assignment when the case was withdrawn."
"Secondly, the silence by the ministry to clarify to the union
the reasons for the with withdrawal supports the claims by the union
that there something fishy about the withdrawal."
"Whilst the union does not intend to make assumptions to the reasons
for the withdrawal, the silence of the ministry could suggest to us
the obvious and the union was very optimistic that this case could set
a trend whereby employers will respect the rights of workers to freedom
of association," he said.
Mr Naivaluwaqa revealed that the withdrawal of this case could send
the wrong signals to employers and violations of the workers' rights
and freedom would become a continuous area of concern to the trade union
movement and that it will be sparking off industrial unrest.
The union has called on the Minister of Labour to stand down from his
position if the empowerment entrusted to his ministry to safeguard workers'
rights and freedom cannot be enforced without interference.
"Turtle Island cases of dispute appears to be treated with a lot
of differences by the ministry as some of our pending cases; we have
been advised the files have gone missing from the ministry except for
the Turtle Island cases."
"Mr Zinck must remember that if his ministry will continue to lack
the empowerment and political will to prosecute employers then he can
expect that workers will continue to demonstrate and protest about the
violation of their freedom and rights whether it be lawful or otherwise."
"Workers have reached a stage now where they have decided enough
is enough and they are bold enough to stage a protest even though they
do not belong to any union."
"The minister should find this trend more challenging to him rather
than to lay the blame solely on trade union leaders."
"The ministry should shoulder some of the responsibility of the
workers' actions because of their failure to take responsible actions
and prosecute the employers who violate the law," Naivaluwaqa told
Fiji Sun, yesterday.
Meanwhile the Union would now be seeking the assistance of the IUF to
pursue the case of the Turtle Island Resort.
Mr Naivaluwaqa added that it was quite unfortunate that the Union has
been compelled to seek international support on the case because of
the Government's inaction and lack of political will to settle the dispute.
Related Story
Union-Busting
at Fiji's Turtle Island [2003.07.07]
IUF
Ready to Return to Fiji After Resort Owner Fails to Acknowledge Request
for Meeting
[2003.06.25]
END
[2003.11.25]
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