FIJIAN Teachers Association (FTA) is prepared to go on strike if Government continues to ignore the needs of teachers across the country.
FTA general secretary Paula Manumanunitoga said strike action would be the union’s last resort — but warned that teachers’ concerns have been neglected for too long.
“With the previous regime, we had put in six applications if we could go on strike,” Mr Manumanunitoga said.
“They refused us, six times they refused us.”
Mr Manumanunitoga said the association had supported the 2022 change of government in the hope that teachers’ grievances would finally be heard.
“I even got locked up for a couple of days.
“So now we are approaching the Government, we teachers voted in. We’re giving them time.”
He acknowledged that change won’t happen overnight but hoped to see some effort by the government in addressing these issues.
He said while some allowances, such as pay, boarding and rural allowances, had been considered, the amounts remained insufficient, compared to the cost of living in remote areas.
“For example, if you live out in the maritime zone, you only get $600 a year.
“But then the cost of things out there, for a tin (canned) fish, over here it costs around $4, over there it costs $10.”
Mr Manumanunitoga said the association would wait out the government’s first term before considering further action.
“But if they come again into government, we’ll probably take the step and apply for protest or strike.
“That would be our last resort.”