Back to news article list

Strike In Fiji Ended, But Future Remains Uncertain ff

27 October 2003 Fiji

In Fiji, the management of the PAFCO tuna cannery says it has reached a pay deal with striking workers.

The company claims it was able to meet the workers' demands, following an eleventh-hour rescue package by American food giant Bumble Bee.

But the future of the cannery remains uncertain, with management claiming it won't be able to afford the higher rates of pay, once Bumble Bee's financial assistance runs out.

The head of PAFCO, Mitieli Baleivanualala, says there was no way the company could have afforded the bill on its own.

”Even at the moment, with the support from Bumble Bee, we will still have some difficulty or hardship in managing the business over the next four years because of the debt servicing, the size of the debt servicing, that has to be dealt with," he said.