Staff accuse Communications Fiji radio group of harassment over union
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RADIO AGAINST UNION MOVE
SUVA (Fijilive/Pacific Media Watch): The Fiji Public Service Association has lodged a complaint to the Ministry of
Labour after workers of Communications (Fiji) Ltd claimed they were being harassed after signing up to join the union,
the Daily Post reports.
General secretary Rajeshwar Singh said a letter of voluntary recognition had been sent to the managing director of the
company, William Parkinson, only to be told by members that management was harassing them.
Parkinson, a former president of the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA), yesterday denied any management heavy
handiness and said his company wanted to ensure that staff were best informed of their options.
"We are proud of the terms we have here at FM96 and Navtarang and the working conditions are the best in the media
industry and probably in any other company as staff get profit shares and have shares in the company itself," he said.
Parkinson acknowledged receiving a voluntary recognition letter, which he said, would be replied to in due course.
"At the moment we are assessing it and will inform the FPSA in due course," he said.
Singh said in a letter to Permanent Secretary of Labour Brian Singh: "We have been advised by our members in
FM96/Navtarang that the management has been threatening our members from yesterday (Tuesday) to withdraw from the union.
"Our information is that five of our members have been given an ultimatum, to withdraw their membership as soon as
possible."
Rajeshwar Singh claimed that he had the support of 56 of the 80 or so staff and would consider industrial action if it
was needed.
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