The timely intervention of the Ministry for Labour, Industrial Relations & Employment mediation unit has averted a potential strike, which could have taken place if National Union of Hospitality Catering and Tourism Industry Employees succeeded in securing a strike mandate that was due to be balloted on March 28 from its members at the Warwick Fiji Resort & Spa.
The union had initially issued 21 days notice on March 2 to the ministry for conducting secret ballot in an attempt to obtain strike mandate from its members employed by Warwick Fiji Resort & Spa.
The issues, upon which the union sought strike mandate related primarily to alleged pay inequalities and inapt procedure adopted in releasing temporary workers from employment due to economic reasons and down turn in business. While parties tried to amicably resolve the issues, their efforts did not achieve desired outcome, hence the notice for strike mandate.
The Minister for Labour, Industrial Relations & Employment Mr Jone Usamate said in order to maintain the continued stability in the labour market and as a proactive measure, the permanent secretary Mr Taito Waqa had activated an informal mediation through the mediation services to intervene and resolve the impending dispute.
In this regard, the permanent secretary assigned the chief mediator, Mr Vimlesh Maharaj to initiate mediation proceedings. In the series of mediation sessions ending yesterday, the parties were able to reach commonality and consensus on all issues reported in the notice.
Mr Usamate added that as part of overall settlement, the parties would further engage in good faith to identify and appropriately address the issues of pay anomalies and also implement structured process as outlined in the Settlement Agreement when releasing workers due to work shortage. The parties also agreed to complete Job Evaluation Review of certain positions by September 2012.
The union had reciprocated by withdrawing the notice of secret ballot thereby completely obviating any possibility of strike.
“I wish to thank Ms Tammie Tam, The senior vice president and Mr Ung Beng Huat the General Manager for Warwick Fiji Resort and Spa and Mr Daniel Urai General Secretary of the Union for acting in good faith and commitment to find amicable resolution to the dispute,” Mr Usamate said.
-End-