We cannot give an assurance at this stage that we will not walk off during working hours again - FASA

As the ATS workers continue to remain suspended, the Federated Airlines Staff Association General Secretary Vilikesa Naulumatua has today stressed that they cannot give any assurance at this stage that the workers will not walk off their jobs again during working hours. 

Naulumatua says the 200 workers do not want to sign Return to Work letters which states that they were misguided when they walked off their jobs on 16th December although it is stated that the workers will not be sacked.

He says they just want ATS to let the workers in and do not want to engage in any mediation if the workers remain outside.   

When questioned by Fijivillage on whether the union saw it right for workers to walk off their jobs during working hours on December 16th which affected airport operations, Naulumatua says it was a serious meeting of the ATS Employees Trust and the workers had to attend it even if it was during working hours.

We also asked Naulumatua what is their log of claims.

Naulumatua first said that they want a 31% Cost of Living Adjustment on the ATS workers salary.

He then said that they have said that they will be happy with a 15% COLA increase and later said in the interview that they would be happy with a backdated 4.3% COLA increase.

When asked on whether the ATS workers have been getting pay increments, Naulumatua says pay increments have been given over the last 11 years however they also want Cost of Living Adjustments.

He also says that they are concerned about two cases of sexual harassment last year.

Meanwhile, Fijivillage has received confirmation from the Acting CEO of ATS Hare Mani that the two alleged separate cases of sexual harassment involving a student and a female security guard have been referred to Police after an internal investigation.

The ATS management also maintains that it is not okay to walk off the job without permission and it is not okay to be absent from duty without approved leave.

Mani also says that ATS remains committed to continue to discuss rates of pay and any other conditions of work that bother employees once every ATS worker is back at work. 

When asked on this issue, Naulumatua maintains that they do not want to sign the Return to Work letters given to the workers.

He says they will definitely not give an assurance at this stage that they will not walk off their jobs during working hours again because the union wants to sign an agreement in front of a mediator based on what they want before giving any undertaking that this will not happen again.

When asked on the workers not getting pay due to their suspension, Naulumatua says they have a lot of support and the ATS management should just allow the workers back.