Change at our own pace

Western Samoa Change at our own pace

Role In national development Koroseta To’o, general secretary of Western Samoa’s Public Service Associ ation (8000 members): THE PSA plays a significant role in our national social, political and economic development. At the moment we are involved in organising the private sector and quasi government and statutory corporations the Bank Union, National Provident

Fund and Shipping Corporation (we’re setting up the first Seamen’s Union).

Our philosophy is well-understood. We are endeavouring to start a credit union, cooperative stores, a medical scheme and insurance service. We are trying to achieve self-reliance and to raise stan dards in a national development role.

The PSA played a major role in achieving universal suffrage in Western Samoa, but we have to make changes at our own pace. We are well protected under our constitution. Article 13, where it spells out the freedom of association, is the only place of legislation to do with unions. The supreme law of the country acknowledges that right. Unless there was a move to seek the necessary two thirds majority to change the law we have no need to worry.

Unions are the basis of protecting workers and human rights. SPOCTU has an important role in helping unions in the region. We have to help each other. We must remain in solidarity with the mineworkers in Fiji and so on. And we support recognition of SPOCTU by the South Pacific Forum.

Recognition of women’s rights is also important. A new government ministry has been set up because of pressure.

However, it isn’t just a matter of what governments do, it is also what unions can do. We have four women in the PSA executive and 57 per cent of our members are women. In the next year or so we expect to see the formation of a national trade union centre representing both private and public service. More than 70 per cent of the country’s 4000 public servants are unionised and 50 per cent of the 10,000 statutory corporation workers are also unionised. □

Koroseta To’o: union role in social, political and economic development