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Kiwi workers deliver message to Fiji government
Kiwi workers deliver message to Fiji government - end the aviation lockout
50 people protested outside the Fiji
High Commission in Wellington today as part of an
international mobilisation for 200 ground handling workers
at Nadi airport who have been locked out by Fiji
Government-controlled Air Terminal Services.
The rally
was attended by members of several Wellington unions and
their supporters and representatives of Fiji community
groups in Wellington.
"We were dismayed and angered to hear that after workers returned from their emergency shareholders' meeting on 16 December, a meeting addressing issues of management of the company, sexual harassment and an 11 year pay freeze, they were locked out," NZ Council of Trade Unions Secretary Sam Huggard said today.
"The actions of ATS management have no place in any decent workplace and we strongly condemn them.
"Safety standards are now at significant risk as the replacement workforce is hopelessly stretched - yesterday Air New Zealand reported damage to its aircraft going undetected while on the ground in Nadi. Travellers will be thinking twice about visiting Fiji."
"Tourism is a major enterprise in Fiji, and for the industry to be successful it must create decent jobs where workers are well supported and respected. The sooner ATS appreciates this the better.
"We took action today to let the workers - the hard working baggage handlers, check-in staff, engineers and caterers - know that the New Zealand union movement is fully behind them."
At the resumption of
the protest, organisers delivered a letter of support for
the locked out aviation workers to the Fiji High
Commissioner, requesting that he urgently communicates to
Fiji government ministers the protestors’ call for them to
move swiftly to ensure the workers can immediately return to
their jobs with
dignity.
ENDS
New Zealand Council of Trade Unions
Te Kauae Kaimahi
The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi brings together over 350,000 New Zealand union members in 40 affiliated unions. We are the united voice for working people and their families in New Zealand.
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