The Fiji Public Service Association has filed six motions with the Employment Tribunal as they want to go ahead with their strike ballot.
General Secretary, Rajeshwar Singh presented the motions before the tribunal today as he wants the strike ballot to be allowed by the tribunal.
In the motions, FPSA says that they have complied with the Employment Relations Act in respect of the notification requirements for the supervision of the secret strike ballot by the Registrar of Trade Unions, they want the Registrar to be ordered to rescind the advice given to the government ministries and departments that the secret ballot would be invalid and unlawful, the Registrar be ordered to supervise the secret ballot and the Registrar be ordered to refrain from taking any action including advising the Permanent Secretaries to stop the participation of the association members at workplaces for exercising their right to cast their vote.
Solicitor General Sharvada Sharma who is representing the Registrar of Trade Unions says the matter needs to be taken to the Arbitration Court.
Sharma says that the unions failed to show up to the negotiation table with the government.
He says he would be glad to discuss with Rajeshwar Singh the proper procedures that should be followed for a strike ballot.
Rajeshwar Singh says the Registrar is looking to frustrate the unions because he says that they have followed the procedures.
Singh says they have made an application to seek approval and if 50%of them agree to the secret ballot then they will be giving a 14-days strike notice.
The matter will be called on the 20th of next month for mention.
