2 Sep 2005

Fresh support for thousands on strike in Tonga

1:15 pm on 2 September 2005

Support for thousands of striking civil servants in Tonga is continuing to swell.

They've rejected the latest government offer to come to the negotiating table.

There are unconfirmed reports the government may give the strikers the permanent payrises they've been campaigning for.

Mateni Tapueluelu reports.

"We've had the strikers from the outer islands, joining the strikers here at mainland Tongatapu. The strikers from two major islands are arriving here in Nuku'alofa, staging their own separate march, are meeting up where they have the rally. It appears they are gaining a lot of support, the relatives of the strikers from the outer islands are gathering at Pangai Si'i to hear what they have to say. Radio Tonga have banned any announcement from the strikers, now they're actually here in Tongatapu they've shared their stories of how they stand by the main committee that is running all the striking events from mainland Tongatapu."