The chairman of the Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) Board, Atunaisa Nayago, stated that the FRA is willing to address issues with the Construction, Energy, Timber Workers Union of Fiji (CETWUF) within the legal framework. He expressed this position in a statement, although he did not elaborate on the specific concerns surrounding the FRA-CETWUF situation, acknowledging that the union had recently declared a deadlock in discussions through their social media and media releases.
According to Nayago, the Employment Relations Act 2007 provides a structured mechanism for dispute resolution that is intended to address conflicts fairly and effectively. He expressed a preference for utilizing this mechanism to navigate the current standoff and emphasized the importance of handling the situation in a way that maintains the integrity of both parties involved.
Nayago criticized the practice of resolving disputes through public statements, labeling it as unproductive and unprofessional. He warned that airing grievances in media outlets could be interpreted as an attempt to intimidate or pressure the opposing party, which would not aid in reaching a constructive resolution.
This statement follows a press release from CETWUF, dated September 3, which was signed by national secretary John Paul. The release indicated that FRA employees who are union members had voted significantly in favor of taking potential strike action.
John Paul noted that since its establishment in 2012, the FRA has received over $4 billion in funding from the government. He mentioned that in early 2023, the FRA formally joined CETWUF, leading to a series of discussions regarding terms and conditions of employment.
He expressed concern that the FRA, despite being funded by taxpayer money, lacked a proper salary structure or performance management system. Paul also claimed that the FRA had not applied salary increments fairly and that management had dismissed the union’s requests for pay raises, particularly in light of rising living costs, which have not been addressed since 2017.
Furthermore, he highlighted that while the Coalition Government had promised to eliminate contract-based appointments within the civil service, state-owned entities like the FRA are still retaining such roles despite a significant shortage of workers in the construction sector.
Paul revealed that the union conducted a secret ballot for strike action, overseen by officers from the Ministry of Employment, Productivity, and Industrial Relations, at FRA workstations nationwide. He warned the public to expect disruptions in FRA operations in the coming months due to the ongoing standoff between the union and the FRA.