Federated Airlines Staff Association (FASA) members representing the 256 Air Terminal Services workers who were terminated during the COVID-19 pandemic shed tears of joy after the inking of an agreement between FASA and the ATS board in Suva yesterday which officially endorsed their reinstatement.
The agreement was facilitated by the Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Professor Biman Prasad who said it was a significant step forward in employer-employee relations in the country.
“We are saying by working together we can take the economy and the country to new heights and in the process, everybody benefits — the employers, Government and workers,” he said.
“Today’s signing of the agreement between the ATS board and the union is part of that step.”
He said part of the overall philosophy of the Coalition Government was working in a tripartite manner.
“We want to bring the Government, employers and the union together — that has been our stance from the get-go.”
ATS board chairwoman Shradha Sharma said 130 to 170 would start immediately while others would be brought in stages.
The workers would also receive a goodwill payment of $5000 each as part of the agreement.
