An application by the Public Service Association for permission to stage a demonstration outside Parliament in 1976 was rejected for security reasons.
This, according to district officer Suva, Jone Serulagilagi, in an article published in The Fiji Times on November 23, 1976.
An association statement strongly criticised the Government’s decision. T
he association wanted to stage the demonstration in protest against the Government’s rejection of counter proposals it made to a Public Service Commission job classification and pay review.
Mr Serulagilagi said the only reason for not allowing the demonstration was security.
Then general secretary of the association, Mahendra Chaudhry, said he did not see why the application had been rejected when meetings relating to other issues were allowed.
He said such actions were not in keeping with a State where democracy was cherished and the individual’s rights guaranteed.
Mr Chaudhry said the association, when applying for permission, had made it clear the demonstration would be peaceful and there would not be any speeches.
He said the Public Service Commission had written what he described as “a hilarious letter” to permanent secretaries and heads of departments saying that those civil servants who took part in the demonstration would have their pay deducted and those who remained in the office but were suspected of not working should be disciplined.
The association lodged a dispute with the Ministry of Labour, where it gave a 28-day strike notice.
The association, in its strike notice, said it wanted improvements to the salaries of civil servants on the lower scales and the setting up of machinery which could collectively resolve classification and grading questions.
Branches of the association throughout the country had decided civil servants should go on strike to back their demands.
However, action was deferred following the outcome of a meeting between the association and the then Prime Minister, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara.
Mr Chaudhry would not comment on the talks but The Fiji Times understood that Ratu Sir Kamisese did not make any concessions.
