The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions iscalling on the Fijian Government to urgently release the Trade Union officialscurrently being detained.
“We have heard that union officials beingdetained include the Secretary General of the Fijian Trade Union Congress(FTUC) Felix Anthony and general secretaries of the Fijian TeachersAssociation, the Fiji nurses’ union and an official from the National Union ofWorkers,” CTU President, Richard Wagstaff said.
“This behaviour is simply appalling. Wecall on the New Zealand Government to take action and call on the Fijiangovernment to immediately release the union leaders they are detaining.”
“It appears that these union leaders havebeen detained in response to a call for a nationwide day of action on Fridayand a march planned for Saturday. This is an appalling response from thegovernment to Fijians exercising their democratic right; to organise and toprotest.”
“This is an attack on the rights ofworking people in Fiji and is both outrageous and shocking. We stand insolidarity with Fijian working people and their trade unions.”
“We will be protesting outside the FijianEmbassy, 31 Pipitea Street, Wellington, from 5.15pm on Thursday 2 May to send aclear message to High Commissioner Filimone Waqabaca that the rights of workingpeople to organise is a core tenant of democracy,” Wagstaff said.
