THE Construction Energy and Timber Workers Union of Fiji (CETWUF) says a wage increase is the most contentious of its six Log of Claims items.
Union representative Sailesh Naidu told Justice Chaitanya Lakshman at the Arbitration Court on June 4 that five of the six remaining items were not complicated issues.
The six issues — public holiday pay (overtime), dirt allowance, meal allowance, loyalty payment, industrial injury and a wage increase — are yet to be agreed upon by Aspen Medical.
On February 4, the union and Aspen Medical signed an agreement on 13 items outlined in the union’s log of claims.
According to court documents, once the remaining items in the claims are resolved and agreed to by the parties, they will be incorporated into a master collective agreement within an agreed to time frame.
Ronal Singh of Munro Leys Lawyers, who are representing Aspen Medical, sought two weeks to obtain further instructions and to thoroughly peruse the union’s position.
Mr Singh said if the non-complicated matters could be resolved by both parties, the one outstanding matter — wage increase — would be given to the court to address.
Justice Lakshman reminded both parties to keep discussing and engage in good faith.
He said a pressing national issue was the brain-drain, therefore emphasis ought to be placed on compensating workers well based on merit to ensure the relationship between employer and employee did not degenerate.
The judge said the issue should not be left unresolved for too long.
Justice Lakshman will recall the matter on July 2.
