22 Aug 2013

NZ unions condemn Fiji military for sugar mill presence

1:55 pm on 22 August 2013

The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions has condemned an apparent attempt by Fiji soldiers to intimidate mill workers poised to strike.

Fiji's Sugar and General Workers Union reported that soldiers arrived at the Lautoka mill after a majority of workers voted for industrial action.

The union says the workers' action is within the law.

The secretary of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions, Peter Conway, says the military should stay away.

"This is clearly another sign of intimidation, this is a situation where the employer has said they will be bringing workers from India, they'll trying to be getting retired workers back and not allowing union meeting, instead of sitting down and getting involved in dialogue they are trying to intimidate workers not to go through with this strike."

The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions secretary, Peter Conway.

There has been no comment from Fiji's military about its presence at the mill.