28 Nov 2012

Fiji trade union leaders say need for new voice prompted new political party

4:19 pm on 28 November 2012

The President of the Fiji Trades Union Congress Daniel Urai says workers are calling for a new political voice and that's the reason for setting up a new party to represent them.

Mr Urai says he and Congress secretary Felix Anthony will take on the same roles in the new party to be formalised in a few weeks' time.

Mr Urai says over the years the Fiji Labour Party of former prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry has deviated from its founding principle of looking after the interests of workers in Fiji.

"Among the workers there have been disagreements on the role that the Fiji Labour Party has been playing in the past and this has enhanced or encouraged the Trades Union Congress leadership to form a political party."

Daniel Urai says the council of the Trades Union Congress has yet to decide on the name for the new party.