23 Mar 2006

New Caledonia media strike affects television programmes

3:35 pm on 23 March 2006

Some television programmes at New Caledonia's public broadcaster, RFO, had to be rescheduled after some of its workers, who belong to the USTKE union, went on strike.

The Union took action after a technician, Rock Haocas, was sacked by RFO after a court found him guilty of assaulting a cameraman during a strike at the station in 2004.

He was at a centre of that dispute which led to a 100 day strike.

Our New Caledonia correspondent, Tuo Chinula, says the station is still running.

"Some of the workers at RFO who belong to USTKE union have gone on strike and they are protesting at the station. That's the radio and television station. But the station is actually still open, so the non-striking workers have got access to the offices."

Ms Chinula says radio programmes have not been affected by the action.