Fijian democracy advocate to speak in Auckld TODAY

CORRECTION - Banned Fijian democracy advocate to speak in Auckland TODAY

Mr Tevita Koroi, president of the Fijian Teachers’ Association, will speak at a public meeting in Auckland today Wednesday 11 November.

He will talk about the current situation in Fiji, particularly as it affects working people, trade unions, and human rights. Members of the public are welcome to attend.

The meeting will be held at 5.30pm, on the first floor of the NZEI building, 4 Bond Street, Grey Lynn. It is being co-sponsored by the three main New Zealand education unions – NZEI, PPTA, and TEU.

In early 2009 the Fiji Public Service Commission terminated Mr Koroi’s position as a school principal because of his call, made in his capacity as a union leader, for the country to be returned to parliamentary rule and proper legal process.

Since then Tevita has been officially informed by the Fiji Ministry of Education that he will no longer be accepted as the representative of the FTA at major institutional education forums in Fiji.

Education International (EI) currently is reporting this infringement of the free exercise of trade union rights to the ILO’s Committee on Freedom of Association.

As well as heading the FTA, Mr. Koroi is president of the Council of Pacific Education (COPE). This is an organisation of major education unions from across the South Pacific region, including from Australia and New Zealand.

Tevita also recently was re-elected to the executive committee of Education International Asia Pacific, of which COPE is a sub-branch.

ENDS