Fiji port ban on despite PM concern

By EUGENE BINGHAM political reporter

A union-organised Fiji cargo boycott will begin in the country's ports today as debate about who will be hurt most by sanctions continues.

The Waterfront Workers Union confirmed last night that its members would heed a call by the Council of Trade Unions and refuse to handle Fiji imports and exports in protest at the May 19 coup.

The decision came as the Prime Minister, Helen Clark, warned against such measures, though the Government would not intervene.

Waterside union secretary Trevor Hansen said the ban would cause most disruption at the Port of Auckland, though other ports handled some Fiji goods.

Baggage handlers at Auckland International Airport are still to decide whether to support the ban. A spokeswoman for the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union said members would meet employers this morning to "discuss options."

Helen Clark said the CTU call was well-motivated but unions should consider whether a ban would be appropriate, or effective. "It is generally been the view of the Government that unilateral economic sanctions do not work. Comprehensive economic sanctions over time do, but they take time to organise."

While Labour Minister Margaret Wilson ruled out intervention such as an injunction through the Employment Contract Act, Helen Clark warned unions they may open themselves to legal action from effected companies.

But CTU president Ross Wilson said last night he believed it was a moot point whether the action was illegal. "I haven't seen any definitive case law and certainly international law very clearly gives rights to workers to withdraw their labour."

The boycott would be reviewed in seven days.

Auckland lawyer Christopher Harder said last night he was taking instructions from a client who was considering legal action to stop the CTU ban if it continued for more than seven days. His client, a producer in Fiji, would be effected by the ban.

* Fiji was struck with a second hostage crisis yesterday when three men stormed a Suva police station, firing six gunshots, and held several police and army officers captive for almost two hours before handing over their weapons.

The men were led by Lieutenant Papu Waqavonovono, whose son Anare was allegedly killed by an Indian soldier in Lebanon this year. He was looking for Henry Ali, but could not get to him. Ali apparently shot Anare several times in the back after going berserk while on peacekeeping duties.

George Speight talks to IRN's Barry Soper

(10 min).