http://gmpsiaprec.blogspot.com.au/2014/08/enough-is-enough-after-8-months-of.html
As the Tonga Prime Minister, Lord Tu’ivakanō, prepares to go to the UN 3rd Conference on Small Islands Developing States in Samoa, the Public Service Association prepare the 2nd major strike action after 9 years of the 1st ever strike action by about 95% of the public servants in Government throughout the Island Kingdom. After waiting patiently for Government to honour the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) when resolving the 2005 six(6) and half weeks strike to review the salaries in 2 years, i.e. 2007, and peaceful negotiations in the last eight(8) months when Government decided to undertake the review in 2013 ignoring requests for dialogue, the PSA says, “Enough is Enough, it’s time for real ACTION to put an end to ill treatment of workers in the Government of Tonga”.
As the Tonga Prime Minister, Lord Tu’ivakanō, prepares to go to the UN 3rd Conference on Small Islands Developing States in Samoa, the Public Service Association prepare the 2nd major strike action after 9 years of the 1st ever strike action by about 95% of the public servants in Government throughout the Island Kingdom. After waiting patiently for Government to honour the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) when resolving the 2005 six(6) and half weeks strike to review the salaries in 2 years, i.e. 2007, and peaceful negotiations in the last eight(8) months when Government decided to undertake the review in 2013 ignoring requests for dialogue, the PSA says, “Enough is Enough, it’s time for real ACTION to put an end to ill treatment of workers in the Government of Tonga”.
The PSA on behalf of the public servants
who went on strike in 2005 had negotiated patiently and peacefully with
Government to honour its commitment in the 2005 MOU to review the salaries in
the public service after two(2) years after signing the MOU.
The PSA understands and is committed to
the importance of dialogue with Government to ensure that major strikes action
by public servants is avoided. However, it seems that Government has
taken the PSA’s commitment in the wrong way that we are going to standby and
agree to injustice decisions that they have made with regard to inappropriate
spending of public funds and granting unfair COLA for the employees in
Government.
During PSA’s quest for a just and fair
COLA for its members and the rest of the employees in Government, the Prime
Minister and the Minister of Justice have sued the PSA and the Secretary
General for T$10,000 each claiming for defamation. This has launched a
jointed civil action in the Supreme Court of Tonga by PSA with the Friendly
Islands Democratic Party of MP ‘Akilisi Pohiva (on behalf of the people)
against Government and Tongasat, a satellite company of HRH Princess Pilolevu.
The PSA in June 2014, using their
constitutional right, submitted a petition to Parliament during the discussion
of the Budget 2014/2015 requesting a 10% COLA to be included. An expert
commissioned by the PSC had recommended a 20% and the Ministry of Finance
calculated 23%. A 5% COLA was only approved by Cabinet in December 2013
to be paid in the 2013/2014 Financial Year promising another 5-10% in the 2014/2015.
This promise was not honoured in the Budget 2014/2015 hence PSA’s petition to
Parliament. Parliament directed that a Sub-committee comprising of
representatives from the Prime Minister’s Office, PSC, Ministry of Finance and
PSA be set up to discuss the petition and to report back to Parliament with
solutions.
In the meeting of the Parliamentary
Sub-committee last Wednesday, 20th August 2014, the Minister of
Finance in his presentation had proposed a 6% to be paid in the 2014/2015
financial year. The PSA come down from its stand on a 10% and accept the
6%. On Tuesday 26th August 2014, the Ministry of Finance
confirmed to tPSA that the COLA is actually just 1% and NOT 6%, i.e. the 5%
from the last financial year (2013/2014) plus extra 1% in this 2014/2015.
The PSA dispute the Minister’s 1% as it was extra 6% that that the PSA agreed
to in the meeting of the Sub-committee.
The PSA has
now decided to end the 8 months negotiation since December 2013 and put an end
to the ill treatment of the public servants for good. The PSA is now
mobilizing the 2nd strike action in Tonga in accordance with the
procedures in the Public Service Act.
For more
information, please do not hesitate to contact the PSA Secretary General
*******************************************
MELE T. 'AMANAKI
Secretary General
Public Service Association (PSA)
Nuku'alofa
TONGA
Tel: +(676) 26-070 (office); 26-080 (direct)
Email: tpsa_secretary@yahoo.com
MELE T. 'AMANAKI
Secretary General
Public Service Association (PSA)
Nuku'alofa
TONGA
Tel: +(676) 26-070 (office); 26-080 (direct)
Email: tpsa_secretary@yahoo.com
