Since the coup, the new Fijian regime has been struggling to balance the government's books. One of their plans for doing this is to lower the retirement age to 55, allowing them to throw a large number of senior public servants out of work. Another is for a 5% across the board pay cut for the entire public service. Either option would reduce the wage bill, and allow them to continue spending money on the army.
Naturally, the Fiji Public Service Union isn't happy with these plans, and is threatening industrial action. Today, Fiji's Attorney-General threatened them back, stating that any industrial action would be seen as "a security issue" under the state of emergency. So, the civil servants will have their pay cut at gunpoint, and if they object, will be detained, beaten and abused for daring to stand up for their rights.
2 comments:
So what is the difference between a 5% wage reduction at gun point and TAXATION?
timeing of cashflows maybe?
SOUTHERN GENT
Posted by Lawrence of Otago : 2/09/2007 01:57:00 PM
The difference is you get to vote on whether you get taxed or not. Really, democracy is wasted on some people.
I don't think this new development is going to sway any right-wingers who've been posting how they wish the army would take over here - in fact, it's more likely to raise their enthusiasm...
Posted by Psycho Milt : 2/10/2007 08:56:00 AM
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