Fiji Daily Post staff on strike over conditions

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FIJI NEWSPAPER STAFF WALK OFF JOBS
http://www.pacnews.org/

SUVA (Pacnews/Pacific Media Watch): About 60 unionised staff at Fiji's Daily Post newspaper have walked off their jobs in protest at working conditions, Pacnews reports.

The workers, all members of the Fiji Public Service Association (FPSA), are demanding the removal of general manager Yashwant Goundar.

They say the Post has breached the country's labour laws by failing to pay them superannuation and other entitlements.

The strike has halted production on the paper, which was not printed yesterday.

FPSA general secretary Rajeshwar Singh was reported by the Fiji Times as saying conditions at the company were "unimaginable in Fiji".

The Times reported that at least five workers are still earning F$5 a night for a seven or eight hour shift.

The workers also claim that Goundar raised the salaries of certain staff by up to F$10,000 this week to secure their support against a strike.

The Fiji Government maintains a 44 per cent stake in the Post.

+++niuswire

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