Nurses will go ahead with a strike on July 24 despite the fact the Fiji Teachers Union and Fiji Public Service Association have accepted the interim Government's offer of one per cent from the 5 per cent reduction imposed earlier this year.
Fiji Nursing Association general secretary Kuini Lutua speaks with Verenaisi Raicola about their stance.
Times: What has the FNA decided about the agreement settled between the interim Government and the FTU and FPSA to restore one per cent of the five per cent reduction in pay?
Mrs Lutua: We have informed our members and called a meeting on Tuesday. I told them what the interim Government was willing to offer. They said we are not worth one per cent and we are not ready to accept the offer. That is why we have jumped out of the confederation to pursue our own deal.
Times: When you say pursue your own fight, what do you mean?
Mrs Lutua: We will return to the negotiating table with the (interim) Minister for the Public Service Commission Poseci Bune for a better deal. What the nurses are saying is that the (interim) Government still owes them two per cent from December, four per cent from January and on top of this another pay cut of five per cent. So the nurses are now fighting for 11 per cent all together even though we would be content if the five per cent is reinstated.
Times: How much in terms of dollars are these nurses sacrificing from the five per cent reduction?
Mrs Lutua: For a nurse earning $12,000 we are talking about $25 a fortnight reduction and this is a lot of money for our members.
Times: Do you feel betrayed that the two unions who were part of the CPSU decided to sign the agreement without FNA?
Mrs Lutua: We don't feel betrayed. I believe they are satisfied with the offer given by the interim regime while our 1450 members refuse to accept that.
Times: Now that the CPSU has accepted the one per cent do you really think the interim Government will fulfill your demands?
Mrs Lutua: This will depend on the negotiation tactics we have. It will also depend on how much we can justify why we are saying we must be given more. For a government to run successfully they must look at the plight of civil servants particularly the skilled workers where our neighboring countries benefit from the training done in Fiji. To address this brain drain the (interim) Government should look at the salaries for skilled people.
Times: When was the last time FNA met the interim Government and what did they propose?
Mrs Lutua: The last time we negotiated was on Tuesday where they offered one per cent pay reinstated. Nurses had an agreement in 2005 locked in the MOA and the job evaluation which is something we have fought for since 2003. (The interim) Government says the job evaluation will benefit the nurses but nothing has been implemented and we don't know why there has been a delay. We have always been told that PSC is looking at it and they must still be staring at it until today.
Times: What is contained in this job evaluation?
Mrs Lutua: It states that nurses work values are higher than what they are paid. A lot more allowances given to civil servants do not apply to nurses. The army, police and prison officers are either given housing or lodging allowance while the nurses are not. Nurses are only entitled to quarters if they are single. We are discriminated even though we are essential workers and civil servants.
Times: While all these discussions are going on interim Minister for Labour Bernadette Rounds-Ganilau is busy marketing Fiji in Dubai. What have you to say?
Mrs Lutua: If your house is burning the logical thing to do is to put out the fire not walk to the neighbour to gossip about what's happening. Bernadette places too much emphasis on tourism instead of the plight of workers in this country which will attract investors home. If the workers are happy investors will have confidence. Investors do not want to come to a country that is full of workers problems. We are very disappointed in the way she has handled our case. Even after lodging our trade dispute and strike mandate on June 26 we have not received a reply. To us that just means she doesn't take us seriously.
Times: So are you serious about walking out?
Mrs Lutua: We have done everything in compliance with the law and given what is required under the Trade Union and Trade Dispute Acts so nothing will stop us from going on strike on July 24.
Times: Interim Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry made it clear they will keep the budget deficit at two per cent of GDP and cannot afford to foot the restoration of the five per cent cut immediately or borrow to fund it.
Mrs Lutua: Other governments borrowed to pay for their workers why can't this interim regime that claims to champion the plight of workers do the same? I mean he wants to maintain the two per cent GDP in a country without democracy. In Fiji today there is no democracy and many workers are scared of the tactics applied by members of this regime. That affects the workers' performance so instead of working hard they will not care less. We are saying give back the confidence because public servants have been poured cold water over their heads. Workers are scared because they have been suppressed. The sad thing is that the regime refuses to look at the MOA or the partnership agreement. If they were serious about doing something positive for the country then in my view they should consult the trade unions.
Times: Academic Professor Ron Duncan suggests the scrapping of unions for better governance. Would this be a good thing?
Mrs Lutua: Duncan believes in that because he is a pro WTO person. For them trade unions pose a threat. Look at the hotels I have been told 80 per cent are owned by only eight people. They change the names of hotels but they belong to a small number of people. We say the strength of this country is in the civil servants that's why we have been strong from pre colonial days to independence because we had committed and honest people. Corruption creeps in when salaries and working conditions are poor and that's why people accept bribery.
Times: Are you wary of intimidation being in the forefront of this fight for nurses against a government led by the military?
Mrs Lutua: No one has threatened me but I know some of our members who are married to military people have been warned. I have advised them to explain to their spouse the reason behind our strike. This fight will benefit all nurses. For us communication is important. I know someone is discouraging our members from going on strike but we have our own way of dealing with that issue and this is all part and parcel of the fight. I have told the nurses to know their rights. The suppression of workers rights today is threatened by multinational companies that want to break down union solidarity. In Fiji we need the unions because our culture forces us to be silent.
Times: When was the last time FNA staged a strike and what were the implications?
Mrs Lutua: In 2005 we went on strike because nurses were underpaid by four increments. That was addressed last year but we received no back pay. This means the nurses were working until 2000 on a lower salary and received no back pay when the pay was reinstated. We receive no risk allowance despite the fact many of our nurses are exposed to all kinds of diseases through their work. There is no health insurance even though they have to go overseas for treatment. There is an increase in breast cancer and mental stress among our members and many face broken marriages because of shift work. Some are even exposed to abuse from patients or their relatives.
Times: The interim Government has set up a contingency plan if the strike goes ahead. Do you think this is good enough?
Mrs Lutua: Nurses are professionals. In past strikes and surely this one, nurses will and have never been cruel. There is always an emergency team on stand-by to safeguard the interest of those requiring immediate care. It is an unwritten understanding that the union accepts.
Times: But interim Minister for Health Dr Jona Senilagakali is adamant nurses will not strike because of their conscience.
Mrs Lutua: I hope he's right. We will only not strike if we reach an amicable solution.
Times: What have you to say to those that will be affected by the strike come July 24?
Mrs Lutua: We need moral and spiritual support from the public because Fiji needs nurses. We respect those who will not strike because of their faith but we believe in fighting for the same cause to benefit medical orderlies and nurses. Medical orderlies look after patients in Saint Giles and some of them are retiring on $9000 after 35 years of working so all we are asking the interim regime is to be fair. We are not here to be whipped every time there is a coup. Business communities, private sectors and churches should assist in partnerships with government to furnish and equip health centres and homes for the aged.
To Mr Chaudhry as an ex unionist we hope he has values and will fight for the plight of workers. We need a fair deal.
