So, the unions have an overwhelming response from their members to go ahead with strikes. The consequences of which will reverberate throughout our country.
But it is important to understand the sentiments from both camps. Union members, understandably, are fed up of feeling their wallets contracting diarrhoea every time there is political instability. And in this instance not even polemic statements about inefficient civil servants will wash. Every individual has the right to a livelihood no matter what their calling.
On the other hand, should strike action occur the nation could ground to a halt. Will it be fair on the rest of the populace and more importantly beneficial to our eroding economy?
These are times for hard decisions. Yes it is crucial that this junta (and any others in the making) realizes that any future coups will not get the support of the country’s biggest labour work-force. It is also hard for union members, who have been unnecessarily burdened with guilt-trip reflections like “think about the country”. It is these exact sentiments that should have been echoing in the brains of the junta before they took over.
And yet despite the doom and gloom surrounding our country right now, the looming strike has shed a ray of light. That even though our democracy is under attack, when it comes to the crunch we will bandy together to stand up against being treated like door-mats leaving all political, religious, cultural and emotional leanings aside.
Ahhhhhh the beauty of numbers. Let’s hope that this ray of light will metamorphasize into a rainbow and that we will see more numbers action real soon with an Election.
- INTELLIGENT RESISTANCE -
Free. Fair. Fearless. Intelligentsiya is made up of Fiji Islanders who are libertarians in their own way and who cherish the free flow of news, ideas and information and will peacefully resist any attempts by the country's military rulers to stifle free speech. intelligentsiya will also bear witness, report and discuss human rights abuses by the authorities.
14 comments:
Up the workers!
I work for Government and yet again I am faced with the pay-cut issue. Whilst I detest the fact that yet again I am to bear the costs of the overthrow of a Govt, and yet again put up with the impending changes particularly to my bank balance much needs to be answered by someone, maybe someone in the higher echelons of Govt.
Why were we not informed of the big-hole in the Govt purse? Should the SDL Govt have informed the populace of this important fact? Will a nation-wide strike bring back the lost/missing dollars that the coffers need right now?
Whilst I agree whole-heartedly with the strike mandate, I am also mindful of the fact that the strike will only pressure our already dwindling finances. So again, this is another plea to the powers that be to hurry up with whatever, do what you need to do and get back a civilian Govt.
The Interim Regime should consider reviewing the timeline before the next election. Take the offers given by the Pacific Island Forum countriies in their promise to provide assistance for Fiji to have an election between 18 months to 2 years. We will all be waiting for your response for the better or worse for the economy.
Ragone,
While we grieve with the public servants on the pay cut one must understand why this bloody coup happens, all because god allowed them to happen. So Ragone dont just give up hope as yet, there is always light at the end of the tunnel, there is rainbow after the rain. No matter what happen, justice will find us, whatever role you may have played on this whole crisis, fence sitter,commentators, activists etc, truth will finally knock at your door. By the time you will find the truth, you will realised that all these ups and downs, downs and ups are just part of re-buiding a nation. Our nation Fiji, me must show our patriotism or nationalism as some might call it, LET US MOVE FIJI FORWARD TOGETHER...whoever you maybe as a citizen of our beloved land, do good to yourself, family, community and friends and act.
yes having a Nation wide strike is a good idea!....workers and unions should not bow down to the millitary & the interim regime, who gave them the right to make such policies? if they want to make policies, conduct an early election coz only elected members voted by the people for the people are the ones who should be conducting such policies! Teleni and Leweni have made it clear that under the currentstate of emergency,it is clearly stated in the constitution that nobody is allowed to conduct public gatherings for voicing their concern, BUT which constitution is giving them the right to arrrest and humiliate people @ the camp? they r just picking out parts of the constitution that suits them, BIG IDIOTS!
Frank's pleas to civil servants to think of the negative impact of a strike on the return to normalcy are a joke! Why didn't he think of that before he staged his unnecessary and self-serving coup? What is it that civil servants are making a sacrifice for anyway? Just to help usher in Frank's personal vision for Fiji? That vision is doomed to collapse under the weight of reaity due to lack of understanding and lack of intelligence anyway! So why make any sacrifices for it? Frank would be much better advised to make all the sacrifices himself - starting with his own resignation as PM AND Commander!
The latest to hand is that FIRCA has been granted an injunction thereby staying the earlier decision of its Management to initiate the 5% pay cut.
I wonder how this will reverberate within other govt corporate entities? And this is impetus for the national unions who are fighting the same issue.
And isn't the silence earie, referring of course to the decision to put a cap on civil servants age. Most probably because most in the IG are over 55.
What do you mean God allowed it to happen? it was the will of Bainimarama .. not necessarily the will of God that brought forth destruction to our country.
As usual, we will be like the naughty human beings that we are - forget Gods teachings when it suits us or when greed consumes us, destroy our God given gifts.... WACK, BOOM, WHOOSH .. then when we cant handle the mistakes we have made, we will go crawling back to God and pray that he is always in control and pray further that he will make our wrongs right again.
There is indeed always light at the end of the tunnel but we cant always turn away from Gods teachings when it suits us. For he definitely did not teach violence, disrespect, lying and battery. which God in which religion teaches that?
I fully agree with "whodat". He and his family should make the sacrifices required ..... starve for two weeks so feel the impact on the paycut on others!
It's funny that Franky was making such a big issue of the IR's sacrifice. What sacrifice? Many were not earning a steady income. So for those their appointment was a 'come-uppance'and they were not elected by the people From 0% to 70%. That's a big raise. Especially the over 55s in the regime. Is it true that one had had his home on mortgagee sale? And I heard that another finally managed to change his roof within a month of his appointment.
Now the interim AG was one who actually had a pay cut. I hope he is not regretting his decision to join the IR.
Regrets? The infamous interim AG is an opportunist through and through. This was the only way he could get into some position of prominence - through the barrel of a gun! He's nothing but a desperate, half-baked lawyer who doesn't even have a shred of self-respect left on his straight, flat cheeks (y'know which ones;)
Lets wait and see where they are tking us! MAD PEOPLE! If unions and Wirkers bow their heads to the millitary and to the onterim Regime then it's like a Blind Man taking another Blind Person in a journey! theyr both LOST
Well while some are grieving with their Paycuts, some people are Happy with their new jobs, Leweni being appointed as one the new Board Member of the FAVC! Due to the political situation FAVC has lost about millions of dollars since investors has turned their back on us.....and to employ Leweni as a Board Member won't do any good but will create more damage....this is another STUPID...ULUKAU...LIALIA...BAVULU...MAD...INSANE....ACTION!!
Have a look at -- Fiji: Public sector workers vote to strike despite military regime’s threats --http://www.wsws.org/articles/2007/apr2007/fiji-a16.shtml
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