By JYOTI PRATIBHA
The walkout by some 300 workers of Starwood Fiji had been declared illegal by the Ministry of Labour.
But Denarau Island’s Landowning Community is adamant that workers were not wrong when they staged the walkout on Tuesday.
Starwood Fiji includes Sheraton Fiji Resort, Sheraton Denarau Villas and Westin Denarau Island Resort and Spa.
The Denarau Island Landowning Community has backed the walkout by the workers and has been negotiating with the Starwood Fiji management on the behalf of the workers.
The community reports to Tui Nadi Ratu Sailosi Dawai.
While not a registered association or a union, the community is made up of Landowning members, see themselves as guardians of the rights of Denarau workers from Narewa Village.
Community president Isikeli Gavidi said they were still standing by the workers and wanted Starwood Fiji management to honour the resolution reached by both parties.
Labour Minister Jone Usamate, however, maintains the strike by the union members of the National Union of Hospitality, Catering & Tourism Industries Employees is illegal.
He said the employees had not provided the Registrar of Trade Unions prior notice of secret ballot which in turn has breached Section (1) of the Employment Regulations Promulgation.
For a strike to be lawful, a notice must be served on the Registrar of Trade Unions 21 days before the nominated date to hold the ballot, the confirmed date, time and place to hold the ballot and issues for the strike.
He said this was not done.
There is also no indication whether any ballot was conducted to decide a walk-out.
Union backing
Mr Gavidi said the walk-out was supported by the Landowning Community and they were backed by the unions. However, he was not aware of any ballot being conducted.
Prominent unionist Daniel Urai did not comment on their support for the walkout, However, he was present in Narewa Village, where the workers had met to protest.
Mr Gavidi said they were maintaining the resolution they reached on behalf of the workers with Starwood Fiji’s management.
He said if the grievances of workers were not addressed within 14 days, they will once again support the workers in their decision to work out.
Starwood Fiji
Sources confi rm that Starwood Fiji managing director Shane Cunning flew out of the country on Tuesday.
Emails sent to him on the matter had not been answered by the time this edition went to press.
Westin manager Ravinder Dhesi, who met with landowning community members at the Tui Nadi’s residence, did not respond to calls made to him to seek Starwood comment.
An interesting issue to watch is whether Starwood will continue with the agreement reached with the staff now that the strike has been declared illegal.
Staff members of Starwood Fiji during their strike on Tuesday in Narewa Village in Nadi. Photo: WAISEA NASOKIA