SUVA — The Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG) and Ecumenical Centre for Research, Education and Advocacy (ECREA) in Fiji on September 16 supported calls for a consumer boycott of products made by the Fiji government-owned Pacific Fishing Company (Pafco) and its US partner, Bumble Bee International.

PANG and ECREA say it is time Fiji and international consumers made a stand against the appalling working conditions of Pafco workers, and support their decision to go on strike in pursuit of their rights.

“Consumers of Fiji cannot passively sit by anymore and watch the suffering of Pafco workers pass before their eyes”, said PANG coordinator, Stanley Simpson. “As a religious, communal and socially conscious people, we must show that we will not condone injustice done to the striking workers of Levuka.

“Until the company respects the workers' concerns, we urge consumers not to buy Pafco products, which have labels such as Sun Bell, Koro Sea, Ovalau Blue and Old Capital Special.”

“We will also launch our campaign overseas to boycott Bumble Bee's products, which include the Bumble Bee and Clover Leaf brands. As a partner, Bumble Bee has a responsibility to ensure that Pafco treats its workers right”, Simpson said.

“While we are mindful of the impact this may have on the Levuka and Fiji economy, people and especially Pafco must also be mindful of the suffering the striking workers are going through.”

Political leaders and successive Fiji governments have done little to resolve the plight of Pafco's workers, even though they have had a number of important judgements delivered in their favour.

These include arbitration rulings in 1996 and a High Court judgement in January 2002. “But instead of implementing these rulings, and bringing long overdue justice to the workers, Pafco's response has been to oppose and drag matters back to court”, Simpson said.

In fact, none of the awards in favour of workers at Pafco have seen the full light of day.

“Consumers must now intervene. The workers, especially the women of Levuka, have suffered and struggled long enough”, Simpson said.

For more information please email Stanley Simpson or Shelly Rao <pang@connect.com.fj> or <econjust@ecrea.org.fj>. They have made a list of all Pafco and Bumble Bee labels and product brands.

From Green Left Weekly, September 24, 2003.
Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.

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