24 Dec 2002

Workers from Fiji's national airline win 4 per cent pay rise after lengthy strike earlier this year

11:19 am on 24 December 2002

Employees of Fiji's national airline, Air Pacific, have been awarded a pay rise of four per cent after a prolonged strike in August.

An arbitration tribunal has backdated the award to August last year.

It has also reinstated the check off system for union dues which had been stopped by Air Pacific.

The tribunal has rejected the company's argument that all pay increases should be linked to increases in productivity.

It has also rejected union claims for overtime for senior staff doing shift work, an increase in the mandatory retiring age of cabin crew and a limit on their weight.

The secretary of the Fiji Aviation Workers Association, Attar Singh, says they are pleased with the pay increase but disappointed with some aspects of the award.