An informal mediation scheduled for tomorrow will decide whether workers from the Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) will initiate an industrial strike. Representatives from the Construction Energy and Timber Workers Union of Fiji (CETWUF), the Ministry of Employment, and FRA will be present at the meeting.
CETWUF released a statement on September 3, revealing that its members voted in favor of a potential strike due to limited salary increments offered to only a select group of workers, along with other unresolved issues listed in their log of claims.
The statement highlighted that FRA intends to selectively award salary increments based on a claim for cost-of-living adjustments that have not been applied since 2017. It also expressed concern over the government’s removal of contract-based appointments in civil service while noting that government-funded organizations in construction are fully owned by the state.
CETWUF National President John Paul stated that negotiations with FRA have reached a deadlock regarding the log of claims. He mentioned that the employer has shown no willingness to negotiate, prompting the union to take a secret ballot that signals their readiness to pursue legal action, though they prefer mediation first.
He indicated that the potential strike would be a last resort and expressed hope for a resolution through the mediation talks. Currently, more than 100 union members are employed by FRA.
FRA Board Chairman Atunaisa Nayago acknowledged the stalled negotiations in a statement on September 3, underscoring the FRA’s commitment to addressing the issues professionally and within the legal framework set by the Employment Relations Act of 2007. He emphasized the importance of structured dispute resolution and cautioned against public media statements that may lead to misinformation and public concern.
Nayago reiterated that FRA is open to maintaining dialogue with the union within the appropriate legal channels and encouraged the union to participate in the dispute resolution process to achieve a fair outcome.