Public Services International Internationale des Services Publics Internacional de Servicios Pblicos Internationale der ffentlichen Dienste Internationalen

fr Stats- och Kommunalanstllda

President: Dave Prentis General Secretary: Peter Waldorff

45, avenue Voltaire, BP 9 01211 Ferney-Voltaire Cedex FRANCE +33 4 50 40 64 64 +33 4 50 40 73 20 (Fax) www.world-psi.org psi@world-psi.org

Prime Minister Bainimarama Government Buildings POB 2353 Suva, Fiji Islands Email: pmsoffice@connect.com.fj Fax: +679 3306 034

File Reference: PW/CK/CHM Contact Person: Chidi KING Tel: +33.450 40 11 70 4th August, 2011

Dear Commodore Bainimarama,

Withdrawal of check-off system for public sector trade unions

I write to you on the day after your interim military government has gazetted the Essential National Industries Decree and less than a month after the Council of Global Unions (CGU) wrote to you expressing grave concern for the continued state-sponsored trade union repression by use of executive decree or physical force. Strong objections to the Essential National Industries Decree have already been raised in the CGUs letter of 13 July. Since then, we have learnt of Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyums announcement of imminent amendments to the Public Service Act, which will abolish the existing check-off system for public sector unions, effective from the next pay day. Yet again, there was no consultation with the unions affected by this measure, nor have those unions been offered any breathing space to put alternative mechanisms in place. Public Services international (PSI) wishes to remind you that the International Labour Organisations Committee on Freedom of Association has consistently asserted that the withdrawal of check-off facilities, which could lead to difficulties for trade unions, is not conducive to the development of harmonious industrial relations and therefore should be avoided. PSI regards this measure as the latest in a series of vindictive attacks on public sector trade unions by the interim administration. The announced withdrawal of check-off facilities comes just months after the administration excluded public sector unions and workers from the rights and protections contained in the Employment Relations Promulgation of 2007. We question AG Sayed Khaiyums statements to the media that the amendments to the Public Service Act are designed to safeguard the interests of all civil servants, coupled as they are with misleading references to protections offered by the Civil Service Act. It defies belief that the

administration can claim to be a choice employer whilst at the same time it systematically puts in place obstacles, the impact of which will be to virtually wipe out democratic unions. We wonder, too, at AG Sayed-Khaiyums claims that approximately $2m a year is collected by the unions by the check-off system and, referring to our affiliate the FPSA, When you look at the balance sheets of some of the large unions like the Fiji Public Servants Association [FPSA], they are actually quite rich[...]. These inaccurate comments reveal the true intention of the administration in abolishing the check-off system, which is to cripple public sector unions financially. Rather than continue along this path of conflict with organised labour, PSI urges your administration to work constructively with unions in Fiji to build mature industrial relations which can only benefit the people and economy of Fiji. Yours sincerely,

Peter WALDORFF General Secretary