Union boycotts of Fiji start

Date: 28 May 2000

Unions in countries right around the Pacific have started putting into place Fiji boycott strategies.

The Asia Pacific Regional Organisation of the ICFTU has faxed the President of Fiji demanding the safe release of all hostages.

The ICFTU fax to Ratu Mara says: " We have today launched an appeal throughout the global trade union movement for trade union action in solidarity with the Fiji TUC and the legitimate democratic rights of the people of Fiji."

The ACTU has announced that boycotts will be in place from midday today.

ACTU President,Sharan Burrow, has released a statement saying Australian unions have moved to isolate the terrorist coup leaders in Fiji by imposing transport and communication boycotts on the island nation.

The ACTU and affiliated unions will apply the bans from midday May 28 following the news that Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry would be sacked and the elected Government replaced.

ACTU President Sharan Burrow said union leaders were shocked by yesterday's announcement, and concerned for the future of democracy in Fiji. Australian unions were united in their determination to support the democratically elected Government.

"Australians will not support terrorists who hold elected Government representatives at gunpoint and hijack a constitution," said Ms Burrow.

"Australian unions will do whatever we can to help our Fijian neighbours. Boycotts and pickets will be applied until democracy is restored to Fiji."

The ICFTU, which represents 124 million members of 216 trade union organisations in 145 countries and territories, has unequivocally condemned the overthrowing of the democratically elected Government of Fiji.

In the protest note to Ratu Mara the ICFTU said:
" The abrogation of democracy at the behest of an armed gang is a course of action which the international community, including the international trade union movement, cannot allow to go unchallenged.

" We pledge our full support to the Fiji Trades Union Congress in their efforts to restore democracy, ensure respect for the Fiji Constitution and defend the rights of the working people of Fiji.

" We call upon you to immediately ensure the release of the hostages, the reinstatement of the legitimate Government and the full respect of the Fiji Constitution, in order to avoid the damage which will otherwise inevitably be done to the international standing and the interests of your country, " the ICFTU fax concluded.

Australian union bans will cover:

 SEA TRANSPORT
- The loading and unloading of cargo for Fiji
(Maritime Union of Australia)

 AIR TRANSPORT
- Freight and passengers to and from Fiji
(Australian Services Union, Flight Attendants Association of Australia, Transport Workers Union, Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association)

 COMMUNICATIONS
- Postal services to Fiji
(Communications, Electrical & Plumbing Union)

Unions will mount pickets at the Fiji Embassy in Canberra, and tourism sector employees will be asked to discourage travellers from visiting Fiji. The ACTU will monitor the situation in Fiji to determine the need for humanitarian assistance.

For further information

Contact:	Andrew Casey
Union:	Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union
Phone:	9281 9511
Fax:	92821 4480
Email:	Andrewc@lhmu.org.au
WWW:	http://www.lhmu.org.au

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