An informal mediation scheduled for tomorrow will decide whether the industrial strike action by workers of the Fiji Roads Authority will go ahead. Representatives from the Construction Energy and Timber Workers Union of Fiji (CETWUF), the Ministry of Employment, and the Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) will participate in the discussions.
On September 3, the CETWUF announced that its members had voted in favor of potential strike action due to limited salary increases affecting only a select group of employees, alongside other unresolved issues outlined in a log of claims. The union’s statement highlighted concerns that the FRA intends to selectively grant salary increments based on claims for cost-of-living adjustments that have not been implemented since 2017.
The union expressed distress over the Coalition Government’s recent decision to eliminate contract-based appointments within the civil service, noting that this decision is particularly troubling for fully government-funded organizations in the construction sector. Additionally, they pointed out that the FRA has been without a full-time CEO since the resignation of the previous CEO.
CETWUF’s national president, John Paul, stated that negotiations with the FRA had reached a stalemate. He noted, “The employer has made it clear that there’s no shift, no movement so there’s no agreement on the log of claims. However, we have taken a secret ballot and we have the mandate to proceed with the legal process if needed, though we prefer to mediate first.”
Paul emphasized that a strike would only be a last resort, and he expressed willingness to explore mediation options. He revealed that over 100 union members are employed by the FRA.
In acknowledgment of the negotiation deadlock, FRA board chairman Atunaisa Nayago stated on September 3 that the FRA is committed to addressing these issues in a professional manner, adhering to the lawful frameworks established by the Employment Relations Act 2007 for resolving disputes.
Nayago expressed a preference for utilizing structured dispute resolution mechanisms to manage the current situation, aiming to address all matters with integrity and professionalism. He criticized using public media for grievances, explaining that it could lead to misinformation and undue pressure on both parties.
He reiterated the FRA’s openness to ongoing dialogue with the union within the legal framework and encouraged the union to pursue this resolution process to achieve a fair and satisfactory outcome.