Expression of Interest Irks Anthony
An advertisement calling on former Air Terminal Services (ATS) workers to submit their Expression of Interest applications is not sitting well with Felix Anthony.
The Fiji Trades Union Congress general secretary has called on the ATS to simply follow the Collective Agreement and reinstate the workers ATS laid off during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The advertisement was printed in yesterday’s dailies.
Mr Anthony said it was unfortunate that was done.
“I think a similar directive by the minister was given to Air Terminal Services to reinstate workers; they are aware who they had terminated and therefore the obligation is on them to get in touch with the workers just as they did via text messages and emails to terminate workers,” he said.
“They can surely reinstate workers in the same manner to say; come back to work, we love you again, that is what they need to say.” He said the Expression of Interest was a face-saving measure by ATS. “I think they should simply stop messing around and do what they are supposed to be doing,” he said. “The workers are ready to go back to work just as Fiji Airways, the road map is very clear for ATS.” Last week, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, Viliame Gavoka said Government was working towards reinstating jobs for former Fiji Airways staff and ATS workers. Mr Anthony met with more than 100 former Fiji Airways cabin crew members at the Lautoka Hotel yesterday to provide an update on the process following Government’s announcement of reinstating their jobs.
He said the union was pleased that Government had taken immediate steps to give directions that the former employees return to work. Mr Anthony added that the Flight Attendants Union would be meeting with the management and he was happy to provide support acquired in the course of negotiations.
Actions aligned: Akbar
ATS Board chairman Parvez Akbar has said the Court judgement in 2020 and the ministry directive for the reinstatement of ATS Workers is consistent as everything is aligned.
He also said that workers who are already employed would not be affected.
He said during the height of the pandemic, some ATS workers were called back to resume work because there were cargo flights, and repatriation flights still going on.
“The termination of staff had impacted the aviation industry; the world was impacted which include Fiji,” he said.
“We started taking back workers and gradually when we started to open up when more flights resumed and there was more stability, more workers were taken in,” he said. He said a few of the workers who had been terminated are already back at the ATS.
“There may be others who may have not come back, but everybody who wanted to come back we have taken them back.”
However, he said: “Training will be only provided depending on the area of work and if they have the required skills.
“The requirements have changed, but it depends on the area of work they will be in.”
Mr Akbar added that according to the Court ruling in 2020, they were not required to reinstate any of the workers.
Now, based on the need of ATS, they have instead started reemploying some of these workers.
He also said at this stage they did not have the exact number of those workers who wanted to return. “Now that we have started the Expression of Interest Process that was published yesterday, we will have some certainty of how many more out there who wants to come back,” he said.
Programme to help rehire terminated employees
A programme is being designed by both the Fiji Airways and ATS management and workers on reemploying hundreds of its terminated staff.
More than 700 employees of Fiji Airways and about 400 of ATS lost their jobs.
The Minister for Civil Aviation, Viliame Gavoka stressed that the organisations were resourceful and should be able to cater for the request.
Ex-flight attendant optimistic
Former Fiji Airways flight attendant, Sioli Tanua, is optimistic of the ongoing processes to get former cabin crew members back to work. The 30-year-old was part of a group of former Fiji Airways flight attendants present at Lautoka Hotel to meet with the Fiji Flight Attendants Union representatives and Mr Anthony yesterday. Mr Tanua, a father to four children, worked with the airline for five years and was among the hundreds of workers terminated on May 25, 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The sole breadwinner for his family said he was hopeful for a positive outcome and was eager to return to work.
He hails from Buakonikai Village in Rabi.
“I feel happy and overwhelmed that we are finally moving forward and I am waiting for a positive outcome,” he said.
“I look forward in going back to work.”