Samoan airline workers'
pp. 46-47 · Read in the full issue
walkout ends in the air
From FELISE VA’A in Apia
Strikes are uncommon in Western Samoa. But they have happened in the past, often with disastrous results.
This was mainly because such unions were informal ones not registered ac cording to law, were unorganised and ill led. Such strikes were often restricted to ordinary labourers who felt they were underpaid and exploited in other ways. They did not trouble
management much for the str could easily be replaced, a moment’s notice in fact, throuj plentiful labour supply.
When white collar emplc strike, this is something else; impact on management is more a So when about sixty blue and > collar employees of Polynesian lines went on strike recently management found it could no place the strikers at a mon notice.
The strike was sparked ofl union opposition to three apf ments to middle manage positions made by Polynesian, union, Samoan Employees Ass tion Inc of Polynesian Airlines tended that two of the posil cargo and hostess supervisors, not advertised in a public m: at all. Furthermore, the appoi were brought in from outside, union felt that there were ah capable and experienced people i company who could have taken the positions. The third post, bo( supervisor, was given to a Polyn employee from another section, union again felt there were ca] and experienced people in the I ing section who could do the i The general manager of Polyn« Mr Marsden R. Stanton, said the management’s point of viev people already in the organis were not qualified enough.
He said: “It is the responsii of management to ensure that best available people are empli particularly in supervisory posii In the long term interests of company promotions cannot al be made from within a section as is normal practice overseas also in the commercial field he Samoa, positions are not aj advertised.”
The union also complained o:< crimination against Samoan empli by New Zealand supervisors, one union member. “When a Saj employee breaks a regulation, fired. When a palagi (Furor breaks one, it is overlooked.”' union alleged that grievance; Samoan employees, submitted supervisors were often not dealt! and many were not passed o higher management. The union' this state of affairs was as oc Polynesian’s 10-year history.
Fed up with these problems?
union’s central committee opted to strike. On November 10, Mr George Tuitama, president of the union, sent a letter which was delivered on the same day, to Mr Stanton, outlining the union’s opposition to the appoint ments and notifying Mr Stanton that the union would go on strike at noon November 13. And strike that day it did.
The effect was immediate. At least one flight had to be cancelled that afternoon owing to lack of air hostesses, the majority of whom joined in the strike. The remaining staff of Polynesian, some 25 per cent of the total staff, were redistributed to fill the more important gaps.
Fortunately for Polynesian, both commerce and government provided assistance, so that though the paper work was slowed down, flights functioned normally afterwards. The strike did not achieve a total stop page of work, but the union did nanage to make its grievances public.
Mr Stanton also had a grievance, de said: “The one and only com nunication from the association was he ultimatum to stop work; and this vithout any prior attempt to discuss he alleged grievances either by the issociation or by those whom the issociation claims to be better suited o the positions. Such an action is ntolerable and unacceptable to the ompany.”
During the first week of the strike, he parties were not able to reach any greement. Though some of the hikers, pressed by lack of finance, ad gone back to work, the union /as determined to fight through to he end.
Mr Tuitama announced that the nion had applied to a government 'onciliation Committee to settle the ispute—a meeting with the Acting Commissioner of Labour, Mr George epuleai. had failed to achieve any oncrete results. Mr Fepuleai merely m the contending parties to try to sach an agreement between them es- This they failed to do. The nion was demanding. The manage ient was haughty.
Meanwhile things at Polynesian Pparently went back to normal, ositiors vacated by the strikers were advertised in the Samoa Times. ext week the story disappeared from 16 Pages of the Samoa Times. Union oWer in Western Samoa is not yet P to the level of industrial nations. • Polynesian Airlines has an ounced that it would operate be- Fiji and the Cook Islands *»er charter to Air New Zealand. . 18 expected that two round trips 111 be made each week.