Fiji: Government 'Hands Off' In Daily Post Strike

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GOVERNMENT SAYS IT WON'T INTERFERE IN NEWSPAPER STRIKE
http://www.usp.ac.fj/journ/docs/news/wansolnews/2002/2002nov/WANSOL2211022.html

SUVA (Wansolwara Online/Pacific Media Watch): The Fiji government says it will not interfere in the week-long Daily Post strike as the media company's board has appointed an independent consultant to look into the workers' grievances, Wansolwara Online reports.

The government owns 43 percent of the newspaper. The Assistant Information Minister, Simione Kaitani, was quoted in today's Fiji Times, saying it was the job of the consultant to look into the strike. He said government would decide what to do after sighting the report.

Around 60 workers staged a lightening strike on Sunday in protest over their working conditions.

A 24-hour ultimatum given to them to return or face the sack has been exhausted.

A report in today's Post said the employees were expected back at work in 24 hours after the board asked them to return and let the independent consultant, Eroni Mavoa, look into their grievances.

But today's Fiji Times quoted the workers' union representative, denying this.

The Fiji Public Servants Association general secretary, Rajeshwar Singh, said the workers would return only after the investigation and following the signing of a memorandum of agreement between them and management.

+++niuswire

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