The Fijian Teachers Association, Public Employees Union and the Viti National Taukei Workers will go on strike from 8 o’clock Thursday morning.
The representatives of the FICTU unions met with Interim Public Service Minister, Poseci Bune in the last hour and have been informed that their proposal has been rejected by the interim cabinet.
FICTU spokesperson, Taniela Tabu confirms that talks have now broken down and all their members will go on strike from Thursday morning. According to Tabu, they will now call for a general strike across the country to make the government listen to their grievances.
FITCU had proposed to the interim government that 1 percent of the five percent pay cut be restored in December this year, another 1 percent be restored in March 2008 while the balance of 3 percent be given to its members by December next year. They also proposed that the payments of 10% under the partnership agreement be made by December 2009 and the implementation of the major issues under the agreement by next year.
Bune is expected to comment soon.
The interim cabinet meeting to discuss the nurses’ strike and the looming FICTU strike finished at about 3pm today and Interim Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama is expected to make a statement soon.
Interim Labour Minister, Bernadette Ganilau also refused to comment on whether she would refer the nurses’ industrial dispute to compulsory arbitration.
Stay with us for developments.
