Common goals unite unions

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FTUC members during a break at the FTUC Special Delegates Conference at Tanoa International in Nadi yesterday. Picture: BALJEET SINGH

TRADE unionists in the country put up a united front as the merger between the Fiji Trades Union Congress (FTUC) and the former Fiji Islands Council of Trade Unions (FICTU) was formalised at the FTUC Special Delegates Conference in Nadi over the weekend.

The formalisation was solidified with the FTUC Constitution during a closed meeting of more than 150 trade union representatives from across the country.

FTUC president Daniel Urai said this was a milestone which was a result of years of challenges and negotiations.

“Despite that, we having recognised the challenges that we are facing today as unions and workers, moved forward to fight for our rights together as one,” he said.

“Today, we sit here in this room as one, as a joint strength to face the obstacles that continuously affect the lives of the working people, particularly our members.

“Our common goals have brought us together.”

Mr Urai said the ongoing sad state of human rights, worker’s rights continued which needed to be addressed.

Former FICTU stalwart Attar Singh said the trade union movement would be strengthened as unions come together for a common goal.

“We are a movement based on fundamental principles which are internationally recognised and which are in international documents,” he said.

“That movement is all about organising to secure employment and to earn just wages so we can feed our families. That is what we are all about.

“The problem that I see is that we have seemed to have been accepting where we have been pushed to.

“That our role is confined to the economic aspects of worker rights.

“That we are only about securing wages and don’t worry about the social and other aspects of running the country.

“We need to change that and we will as we continue to work together,” Mr Singh said.

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