Three unions fight to control Fiji workers

control Fiji workers

A demarcation dispute to snd all demarcation disputes is brewing in Fiji. Two new

unions and a deregistered

union with a new name are all seeking to represent wharfies and seamen in industrial mat ters. Deregistration of the Fiji Waterside Workers’ and Seamen’s Union was followed by formation of a union at Lau toka known as the Port Workers’ and Seamen’s Union.

Then another union was formed in Suva the Fiji Waterfront Workers’ and Seamen’s Union.

Now the deregistered Fiji Waterside Workers’ and Seamen’s Union is seeking registration under the name of All Port Workers’ and

Seamen’s Union. The on looker, justified, is somewhat amazed by this proliferation of names, especially when one uses the word “Waterside” and another “Waterfront” with other words identical.

The Fiji Waterside Workers’ and Seamen’s Union itself was formed after its predecessor was deregistered, with prac tically the same officials. The leader of the All Port Workers’ and Seamen’s Union is Taniela (Big Dan) Veitata who was industrial adviser in the deregistered union, and who had a lot of influence on the waterfront. Some of this influ ence has undoubtedly waned, but Taniela still has a big

following.

About 500 attended the meeting he called to form the All Port Workers’ and Seamen’s Union. He said he could be industrial adviser of the new union, if members

agreed.

He also said all the assets of the deregistered union would be transferred to the All Port Workers’ and Seamen’s Union.

There was a “substantial amount of money’’ in Australia for the union to use for “recon struction purposes’’. It could be used to pay union executives’ salaries, office costs and gen eral operation of the union for the next four or five years. This money was given by the Inter national Transport Federation in London.

The Trade Union Advisory Committee has to decide which union it will accept to replace

the deregistered Fiji Waterside

Workers’ and Seamen’s Union.