The chairman of the Fiji Roads Authority Board, Atunaisa Nayago, has stated that the FRA is willing to address issues with the Construction, Energy, Timber Workers Union of Fiji (CETWUF) within the legal framework available.
In a statement released today, Nayago did not elaborate on the specifics of the situation but acknowledged that the union has claimed discussions have reached a standstill through their social media and press releases.
He emphasized that the Employment Relations Act of 2007 provides a structured process for resolving disputes effectively and fairly. Nayago expressed a preference for utilizing this mechanism to address the ongoing deadlock, ensuring that all matters are resolved in a way that maintains the integrity of both parties involved.
He criticized the approach of resolving disputes through public media, stating that such actions are neither productive nor professional and could be seen as an attempt to intimidate or pressure the other party, hindering constructive solutions.
Nayago’s remarks followed a press release from CETWUF on September 3, in which national secretary John Paul announced that FRA employees who are union members overwhelmingly voted in favor of potential strike action. Paul pointed out that since the FRA’s establishment in 2012, the government has contributed over $4 billion in funding.
He expressed concern that, despite this substantial funding, the FRA lacks a salary structure or performance management system. Paul also claimed that the FRA has not applied salary increments fairly and has ignored the union’s requests for salary increases based on cost of living adjustments that have been neglected since 2017.
Additionally, he noted that while the Coalition Government promised to eliminate contract-based appointments in the civil service, state-owned entities like the FRA are still opting to retain these contracts amid a significant labor shortage in the construction sector.
The union recently conducted a secret ballot for strike action, overseen by officers from the Ministry of Employment, Productivity, and Industrial Relations at FRA work sites nationwide. Paul mentioned that due to the ongoing standoff between the Union and the FRA, the public should brace for potential disruptions to FRA operations in the coming months.