A strike now seems imminent by the employees of Air Ports Fiji Limited as the Fiji Public Service Association and Air Traffic Management Association have decided that no further talks will take place.
FPSA General Secretary Rajeshwar Singh said they are not satisfied with the manner in which the relevant authorities are dealing with their notice to go on strike on August 29th. Singh said the time for talks is over.
"The time for negotiation is over. The three ministers didn’t do anything. The management hasn’t done anything. The board is run by two expatriates and I think those who are responsible have to wake up and fix these things up. For the sake of this country – our matter is another one, we are dealing with it the way we want to deal it – we’ll wait for the 29th (of Augusy). At midnight. That’s sufficient. The numbers are given and we will do that."
AFL Chairman Digby Bossely said Management has been instructed to resolve the matter and he does not know why the Union Leaders are taking such a stance.
"As far as the board is concerned, we have delegated management to reach an agreement with the union. I understand that he is refusing to have any negotiations. The whole idea is to sit down and talk. I said to the people taking this stance: “you talk to management”. I’m not sure where they’re coming from."
The Union claims that the AFL has not taken any concrete steps to resolve the association's outstanding disputes and grievances, adding they have failed to honor awards, judgements and rulings given in favour of the Association's Members in AFL for the past several years, including COLA Log of Claim.
