5 May 2008

Fiji public servants still chasing backpay as wage cuts are slowly restored

7:14 pm on 5 May 2008

Fiji's public sector unions are still fighting for the restoration of backpay following a temporary wage cut last year.

The interim government had cut public servants pay by five percent after the 2006 coup.

By last December, public workers had received a 1 per cent restoration, backdated to March, while two months ago, the interim regime said it would restore the remaining four percent in two steps, but wouldn't give backpay.

The Teachers Union's general secretary, Agni Deo Singh, says they are continuing to push for these lost wages.

"Our dispute is now on the backdating. We have listed the dispute with the ministry of labour and the dispute has been heard in the first phase where we are trying to find a way out in the dispute committee. It has not been resolved, so the next step is to go to the arbitration tribunal. So we're hoping that we'll get a date as soon as possible."

Agni Deo Singh says they are not considering to take industrial action because the case is being heard.