The secret ballot intended to be conducted by the Fiji Public Service Association, Fiji Teachers Union, Fijian Teachers Association and Fiji Nursing Association from today to 6th October has been rejected by the Registrar of Trade Unions and Permanent Secretary for Employment Salaseini Daunabuna.
According to a government statement, the ballot has failed to meet requirements under the Employment Relations Amendment 2015.
In a letter sent on the 15th of this month, the Registrar advised the unions that the notice had been rejected on the basis that no negotiations had been undertaken between the government and the Unions as required under the amended Act.
The government statement further says that parties are required to exhaust negotiation mechanisms before any secret ballot for strike can be undertaken and in this instance there have been no negotiations at all.
The decision by the Registrar was also based on documents provided by the unions that showed that they declined to meet with government to begin the negotiation process.
Because the secret ballot cannot be supervised by the Registrar, any attempt by the unions to conduct a secret ballot without the supervision of the Registrar shall be contrary to the Act, and any result of the secret ballot shall be invalid.
It further states that any strike action or threat of strike action which takes place on the basis of this result shall be both unlawful and invalid.
