AIR Terminal Services (Fiji) Ltd says there is no victimisation of workers who have returned to work.
A statement released by the company’s human resource manager Richard Donaldson said the returning workers were warmly welcomed by their colleagues and managers.
“This is contrary to allegations of victimisation in the media made by union officials and politicians,” the statement read.
“While there is no victimisation there are consequences for misconduct in the way of returning workers will receive a warning letter.
“It is now very clear that political parties, the Fiji Trades Union Congress and the Fiji Public Service Association are using the workers for political gain rather than encouraging the smooth operations at Nadi International Airport.
“They are calling on those who abandoned their post not to acknowledge their wrong, but instead are encouraging and financially supporting the situation.”
The statement also claims the National Federation Party had been publicly thanked for their financial support by way of free daily lunches for those in the picket line.
“The number of political figures overtly visiting the site does not help employees acknowledge their wrong doing, bring an amicable remedy to the situation or assure ATS that a similar illegal walkout affecting operations will not reoccur.
“The ATS chairman’s offer is based on the condition that employees acknowledge their unlawful walkout and/or unexplained absence.
“Returning employees and management urge other employees on strike to take advantage of this offer and to call the company if they wish to seek further clarification.”
The company claims that 26 workers have returned to their posts after the standoff which started on December 16.
NFP leader Dr Biman Prasad said if claims of victimisation were true, then the board and management of ATS was also discriminating those who have a 49 per cent stake in the company.
“We have been reliably informed that those who were locked out more than two weeks ago and have chosen to return to work have been told that they will not be given any pay rise or promotion at work,” he said in statement.
“This is victimisation and discrimination.
“So far, we have seen that ATS Board, management and the Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations Minister have defiantly and illegally treated this as a strike issue.
“It is not. It is purely 49 per cent of shareholders in ATS expressing concern at how the company is being run and seeking justice.
“This impasse must end and nobody should be victimised and discriminated including those who have opted to return to work.
“No one must be compelled into saying or signing any document, including the letters as unlawfully required by ATS,” said Prof Prasad.
FTUC national secretary Felix Anthony said ATS board and management were engaged in a blame game instead of finding a resolution to the matter.
“I think that is absolute nonsense,” he said in response to the statement by ATS.
“We did not lock out the workers. This is something that is of the management’s making and the fact that these problems existed over the past 11 years reflects on the calibre at ATS and that they still have at this present time.
“FTUC has attempted prior to this matter reaching this stage to discuss these issues with the board member a few months ago and no one accepted the efforts that FTUC took.
“I think that it is most unfortunate that the ATS management wants to play the blame game and we are not getting into this blame game with them.
“We want them to resolve this issue because at the end of day, it will be better for the workers, better for the company and better for this country,” said Mr Anthony.
Attempts to obtain comments from the FPSA general secretary Rajeshwar Singh last night were futile.
