National Union of Public Workers call for 20% pay rise

The National Union of Workers are calling for a 20 percent increase in their pay.

While speaking at the Fiji Council of Social Services and Fiji Public Service Association People’s Rally, General Secretary Rajni Chand said their union represents the hourly paid workers in government and this include tradesmen, caregivers, laundry hands, drivers and those workers that get paid on a weekly basis.

She says they have written to Public Service Commission Permanent Secretary, Parmesh Chand regarding a 20 percent increase in the pay for all government workers and there has been no response from him.

Chand says they are supporting the rally today because they are unhappy with three issues including their pay.

She says they are fighting for an increment because the last increment was in 2017.

She adds they did not receive any other increments after the 2018 elections until now.

When asked what happens if the government does not support their plea, Chand says they will look at other ways to deal with the issue and calling for a strike will be their last resort.

People attending the rally voiced their concerns as to why the Government should listen to voices of workers and not go through with the gazetted pay increases.

A lot of the concerns raised from the rally were why the Government they voted in had only looked at their salaries and not the workers.

The second People's Rally will be held at Suva's Thurston Gardens from 9am next Saturday.