28 Feb 2006

Tonga's Public Servants Association calls for talks with acting Prime Minister

4:25 pm on 28 February 2006

Public servants in Tonga say they're aware that redundancies in the public service must go ahead but they want discussions to be held before any action is taken.

The vice-president of the Public Servants Association, Fotu Fisi'iahi, says PSA members agreed that they would take strike action, only as a last resort, if the government would not hold talks.

He says nobody's been told how many jobs will go but the PSA executive is sending a letter to the acting prime minister, Dr Feleti Sevele, to ask for a meeting.

Mr Fisi'iahi says PSA members need to know what is planned.

"It's always said in every meeting, that a redundancy package has to be good before we opted to take it. It has to be good and to ensure that everyone who's made redundant, gets their money."

Fotu Fisi'iahi, the PSA vice-president.