3 Aug 2007

Fiji teachers strike suspended as holidays begin

3:45 pm on 3 August 2007

The Fijian Teachers Association has called off its strike and has asked its members to return to work after the interim regime brought the school holidays forward by two weeks.

The holiday begins from the end of today.

The FTA president Tevita Koroi says the teachers are not able to strike during the holiday period, but they will continue to pursue the restoration of the five percent cut from their wages early this year.

"Our issues are still very much alive. While the school holidays are going to occur much earlier we are going to still pursue the issues that we have with government."

Mr Koroi all teachers, including non-union members that went on strike, will be paid their strike allowance.

The interim education minister, Netani Sukanaivalu, called the decision to end the strike a wise decision.