The Fiji Public Service Association (FPSA) has submitted a strike notice to the Registrar of Trade Unions in response to their ongoing grievances with the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS).
In a communication to over 300 members, FPSA Secretary-General Judith Kotobalavu expressed as “extremely frustrated” about the prolonged delay in addressing these issues. She stated that the association has been waiting for eight months, hoping for a swift resolution to their grievances.
Kotobalavu highlighted that the 2023 Job Evaluation Exercise (JEE) report has not been shared or discussed with FPSA members at FRCS, raising concerns about the justification for implementing a new salary structure for staff. The FRCS conducted a JEE in December 2023 and proposed a new salary band based on standards from the finance and banking sector.
She described the situation as a significant governance issue within FRCS, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability to their members. Due to the delay in resolving these critical matters, FPSA members have opted for further action, prompting the association to consider immediate industrial action as a last resort.
FPSA held a meeting with its members at FRCS last week, where a vote was conducted in favor of strike action.
Inquiries sent to FRCS CEO Udit Singh went unanswered yesterday. However, Singh previously indicated in early August that the concerns raised by FPSA were being reviewed by the board of directors, which had additional questions that the management team was compiling responses to.