MARKET-DRIVEN government

To market, to market

policies are seen by economists as a realistic approach to difficult times. Unions throughout the Pacific Islands, however, view it differently. They see their role of protecting workers' interests as crucial in such times.

More than 180 delegates from 12 Pacific nations gathered in Wellington, New Zealand, in mid-February for a conference on trade union rights and a regional social and economic charter organised by the Brisbane-based South Pacific and Dceanic Council of Trade Unions

:Spoctu).

Paha Fasi (an economics teacher at fikipunga High School, a trustee member )f the Pacific Island Employment Development Trust, and the only Pacific slander on the executive council of the s ost-Primary Teachers' Association), said Jew Zealand’s Employment Contract Act las forced many Pacific Islanders to work without proper contracts for low pay and lelow minimum conditions. “In these hard conomic times, it is a question of survival, le or she will take a job at any pay rate r on any conditions.’’ Some people worked several part-time jobs seven days week, and social and health cuts had dded to the pressure, he said, he conference also unanimously ondemned Fiji’s new industrial decrees, hich the interim Government sees as the asis for a stable industrial environment ivouring economic growth. The Wellington meeting came less than a week fter Mahendra Chaudhry, (a former abinet minister in the late Dr Timoci avadra’s short-lived coalition Dvernment deposed by Major-General tiveni Rabuka), was charged under the acrees with holding office in two unions once. He was being paid as general icretary of the Fiji Public Servants’ jsociation and voluntarily headed the ational Farmers’ Union for several years. ie unions believe the Fiji Government’s jcrees are authoritarian and draconian.

Duncil of Trade Unions President Ken Duglas also said the 1987 coups created e conditions for changes in textile anufacturing in Australia and New ialand through Fiji’s cheap labour ilicies for foreign companies and anti lion curbs. ivld Robie interviewed union leaders »m the region about employment issues, d the role and development of unions in 5 region. □