Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said the head of the Sugar Industry General Workers Union is putting his own personal interests ahead of the well being of the workers he supposedly represents and more than 1,200 other sugar mill workers who do not even belong to his union.
Union General Secretary Felix Anthony has threatened that the sugar mill workers will go on strike as they are unhappy with the pay rise awarded to them last week.
Sayed-Khaiyum said any industrial action, especially in the middle of crushing season, is a shameless attempt to damage the sugar industry at a time when reforms and hard work are showing concrete results in improving its financial health, reversing a long decline.
He said sugar cane farmers are now paid more and paid sooner for their crops.
Sayed-Khaiyum said Anthony thinks nothing of abusing his power in a vain attempt to survive at a time when his relevance in the Fijian economy has become questionable.
He said the union boss in his desperate attempts to hang on largely in the eyes of his meddling international labor allies is actually taking part in threatening the jobs of thousands of Fijian workers; and by attempting to disrupt Fiji’s trade relationship with the United States, putting 15,000 Fijian jobs on the line.
The Fiji Sugar Corporation announced last week that more than 2,000 mill workers will get a 5.3% pay increase, equal access to health insurance and access to the special welfare fund.
FSC Chairman Abdul Khan said the health insurance will now be available to all workers, with FSC paying for 50% of the premium.
The pay raise had been in the works for more than two weeks.
Khan said the pay raise and leveling of benefits come as a result of improved performance, lowering costs and increasing output.
The pay raise will be retrospective to June 1st, and applies to all workers except company executives.
Anthony is yet to comment as a strike ballot is expected to be taken this week.
Story by: Vijay Narayan
