Urgent action appeal from Fiji [Archive]

ckaihatsu

30th August 2011, 20:25

Urgent action appeal from Fiji

Trade unions in Fiji are under attack. Is this email not displaying correctly?
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Union leader due to begin trial on Friday this week - please act quickly!

The trade unions of the Pacific island nation of Fiji are under attack.

The trial of the leader of the Fiji Trades Union Congress is due to start this week.

Please take a moment to join thousands of other trade unionists from around the world to send your message of protest:

http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=1086

Please spread the word by email, on Facebook, and elsewhere.

This is extremely urgent.

Thank you!

Eric Lee

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ckaihatsu

30th August 2011, 20:36

New Fiji decree hits unions

Tamara McLean, AAP New Zealand Correspondent
August 9, 2011 - 4:14PM

A new decree published by Fiji's military regime drastically restricts workers' rights and must be repealed, Amnesty International says.

The human rights watchdog is one of several international organisations to raise concerns about the new employment laws that curtail the country's union movement.

The decree effectively removes nearly all collective bargaining rights, severely curbs the right to strike, bans overtime payments and voids existing collective agreements for workers in the nation's main industries.

In addition, it authorises employers in government departments to dictate working conditions while denying their workers access to independent unions.

Fiji's military regime, in power since a 2006 coup, abrogated the constitution in 2009 and has since ruled by decree, introducing Public Emergency Regulations that limit both media and public freedoms.

In introducing the latest Essential National Industries (Employment) Decree in late July, the government claimed the measures would ensure the development, viability and sustainability of important industries.

However Amnesty International said the measures amounted to a blatant attack on unions that violated international labour law and Fiji's human rights obligations.

"Fundamental human rights are at stake, including the right to freedom of association and assembly, and the right to organise," the organisation said in a statement released on Tuesday.

"Amnesty International stands steadfast in solidarity with workers in Fiji and the Fiji labour movement in their struggle to defend their rights."

The organisation has also spoken out against the arrest of Fiji Trades Union Congress president Daniel Urai and Hotels Union staff member, Dinesh Gounder.

The two men have been charged under the Public Emergency Regulations for holding a meeting without a permit.

The watchdog said the arrests, as well as the harassment of a third unionist, were a violation of the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) fundamental principles.

"Trade unionists should not need permits or permissions to meet their members," it said.

The ILO has responded to the new decree and arrests with the announcement on Tuesday it would send a high level delegation to Fiji.

Director-general Juan Somavia said in a statement that he had serious concerns about the "grave situation" and feared it would deteriorate further.

The world's main international trade organisation, the International Trade Union Confederation, has also weighed into the situation, saying it plans to escalate its campaign against Fiji's regime in light of recent developments.

Fiji's regime refused to comment on the issue to international media.

This story was found at: http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/new-fiji-decree-hits-unions-20110809-1ikja.html