The chairman of the Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) Board, Atunaisa Nayago, has stated that the FRA is willing to address issues with the Construction, Energy, Timber Workers Union of Fiji (CETWUF) through legal frameworks. He made this statement following recent comments from the union, which indicated that discussions had reached an impasse.
Nayago emphasized that the Employment Relations Act 2007 provides a structured mechanism for resolving disputes fairly and effectively. He expressed the FRA’s preference to utilize this method to manage the current disagreement, ensuring all matters are handled with integrity for both parties involved.
He criticized the approach of resolving disputes through public statements, labeling it unproductive and unprofessional. Nayago cautioned that airing grievances in media outlets could be seen as harassment or coercion, which does not lead to constructive resolutions.
His remarks followed a press release from CETWUF, dated September 3, in which national secretary John Paul reported that FRA employees who are union members had overwhelmingly voted in favor of potential strike action. Paul noted that since the FRA’s establishment in 2012, the government had allocated more than $4 billion in funding.
Union discussions regarding employee terms and conditions began in early 2023 after the FRA joined CETWUF. Paul pointed out concerns about the FRA’s lack of a salary structure and performance management system, which he found surprising for an organization funded by taxpayer money. He also claimed that salary increments were not applied fairly and that management rejected requests for salary increases based on cost of living adjustments, which have not been implemented since 2017.
Additionally, Paul mentioned that while the Coalition Government had announced the elimination of contract-based appointments in the civil service, state-owned entities like the FRA were allegedly resistant to this change despite a significant worker shortage in the construction sector.
According to Paul, the union recently conducted a secret ballot regarding strike action under the oversight of Ministry of Employment officials at FRA workstations nationwide. He cautioned that the public might experience disruptions in FRA operations in the coming months due to the standoff between the union and the FRA.