The chairman of the Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) Board, Atunaisa Nayago, announced that the FRA is willing to address issues with the Construction, Energy, Timber Workers Union of Fiji (CETWUF) through legal avenues. In a statement issued today, Nayago did not delve into specifics regarding the FRA-CETWUF situation but acknowledged claims from the union on social media and in media releases, indicating that discussions had reached an impasse.
Nayago emphasized that the Employment Relations Act 2007 provides a clear dispute resolution mechanism aimed at addressing conflicts fairly and effectively. He expressed a preference for using this structured approach to navigate the current deadlock, stressing the importance of maintaining the integrity of both parties involved.
He highlighted that resolving disputes through public statements is counterproductive and unprofessional, suggesting that airing grievances in the media might be perceived as harassment or coercion and does not aid in finding a constructive solution.
Nayago’s comments followed 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 overwhelmingly voted in favor of potential strike action. John Paul pointed out that since its establishment in 2012, the government has allocated over $4 billion to the FRA.
He noted that after joining CETWUF in early 2023, discussions regarding employee terms and conditions occurred between workers and the union. Paul expressed concern that the FRA, despite being funded by taxpayer money, lacked a salary structure and a performance management system. He claimed that the FRA had not fairly implemented pay increments and had dismissed union requests for salary increases based on cost of living adjustments that have not been applied since 2017.
According to Paul, while the Coalition Government announced the elimination of contract-based appointments within the civil service, entities like the FRA continue to maintain such appointments despite a critical worker shortage in the construction sector.
In light of the ongoing conflict, he mentioned that the union conducted a secret ballot for strike action last month under the supervision of officers from the Ministry of Employment, Productivity, and Industrial Relations at FRA worksites nationwide. Paul regretted to inform the public that disruptions to FRA operations may occur in the coming months due to this standoff between the union and the FRA.