The union representing Fiji's sugar mill workers is worried the plants may be run by the military if industrial action goes ahead.
The leadership of the Fiji Sugar and General Workers Union says two thirds of members have voted to take strike action over pay, which is said to be below the poverty line.
The ballot is still being validated by the Labour Ministry and the union has not yet discussed the timing of any action.
But in the last few days the Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, released a statement saying that one way or another, the mills will need to continue to operate even if some people abandon their jobs.
The union's general secretary, Felix Anthony, says he considers this further intimidation.
"So we take this as a threat indicating that possibly that we may have the military man the mills or even the sugar industry being placed under the Essential Industries Decree that would effectively disenfranchaise all sugar workers from any rights whatsoever, including the right to strike"
Felix Anthony says while the members were being balloted last week, soldiers and police were at the polling stations and there were allegations of interference with the voting process.
No talks are due with the Fiji Sugar Corporation, which has previously offered workers a rise of 5.3 per cent
