Workers’ Union Presses For Contempt Proceedings
The Federated Airlines Staff Association filed a contempt proceedings against the Air Terminal Services (Fiji) Limited at the Lautoka High Court yesterday. FASA was represented by lawyer Kevunieli Tunidau while Mele Rakai of Sherani and Co represented ATS before judge Justice Mohammed Mackie.
The court heard that Mr Tunidau wanted to proceed for committal proceedings against the executives of ATS Company and asked for a hearing date.
However, Ms Rakai informed the court that there was no need to proceed with the matter.
She told the court that two of the union executives had been posting issues on social media pending before the court.
Ms Rakai told the court that a letter on this matter was addressed to Mr Tunidau’s office and would be attended to after his arrival in the country from an overseas trip a few days ago.
Ms Rakai said ATS had a claim as well for eviction which she later withdrew.
Mr Tunidau said his stand remained on the issue and he still wanted to go ahead with committal proceedings despite eviction proceedings.
Justice Mackie advised Mr Tunidau to inform his clients not to post the matter that is before the court on social media.
He said that all the staff had returned to their workstations and there was peace.
There was no need for outside parties to interfere, Justice Mackie said.
However, Mr Tunidau informed the court that “peace did not prevail when the father of the house was not in order’’.
Ms Rakai asked the court for 28 days to file the affidavit and was granted her request.
The court will now rule on the ATS application for a stay of committal proceedings on March 16. The contempt proceedings by the workers arose after ATS chief executive officer Hare Mani allegedly breached court orders on November 6 last year.
The orders restrained ATS and its workers from interfering with the peaceful occupation of the workers of their FASA office that is located within the ATS premises.
The contempt and committal proceedings are against Mani for allegedly disobeying the order.
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