The General Secretary of the Confederation of Public Sector Unions Rajeshwar Singh has refused to comment on the General Secretary of the Fiji Teachers Union Agni Deo Singh revealing their plan to the civil servants where Agni Deo Singh has said that they will go on strike even if there is no strike ballot.
Although the law is clear that the public sector unions have to enter the negotiation process and go for a strike ballot when there is a deadlock, the unions are now calling on the workers to just walk off their jobs.
They can only go on strike if more than 50% of the members agree to walk out of their jobs.
The Confederation of Public Sector Unions which is made of the Fiji Public Service Association, Fiji Teachers Union, Fijian Teachers Association and Fiji Nursing Association, has 14,000 members. The total number of civil servants is more than 28,000.
When questioned by Fijivillage today on whether the unions are planning to go on strike even without a ballot, Rajeshwar Singh said that he will not answer that question posed by us.
Singh also refused to comment on the call made to members to carry out an unlawful act.
When asked by one of the members in the union rally at FTA Hall on Wednesday night on what they will do if they do not get their way in the Employment Tribunal, FTU General Secretary, Agni Deo Singh said everyone can just walk off their jobs.
170 members attended the rally in Suva. We have contacted Agni Deo Singh.
He says he will comment later today.
Meanwhile Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says the constitution is clear for unions and their members wanting to take strike action.
He says they have the right to strike provided the strike is termed legal and all the provisions are exhausted.
While speaking to Fijivillage, Bainimarama said that it sounds like Fiji Teachers Union General Secretary Agni Deo Singh wants the 14,000 civil servants who are members of the public sector unions, to break the law.
Bainimarama says the Bill of Rights is clear and the unions have to follow the processes of negotiation and then a legitimate strike ballot before they can take strike action.
He stresses that everything should be done within the law.
