A move by the Tongatapu no1 People's Representative, 'Akilisi Pohiva, to resolve the national strike, and get the striking civil servants to return to work was rejected by Parliament yesterday.

'Akilisi presented a motion calling for government to cease the payment of the new salary revision, which came into force on July 1, and instead redistribute the $7.1 million that was allocated for the Salary Revision among all the public servants. He believed that such a move would get the public servants back to work immediately.

He proposed that the money used for the top-level salary increases should be instead divided equally across the board including the lower level salary adjustments. Further adjustments and improvement to their salaries could be done later.

However, Tevita ‘‘Ova, Chief Clerk of the House, said that the proposal was rejected by members of the House.

He said that Prince Tu‘’ipelehake told the House that what ‘Akilisi proposed was a totally new matter in comparison to what the House had already passed, and that was the Parliament's resolution for Government to take action on PSA's letter of grievance.

He proposed to let Government do their work regarding the letter of grievance and that ‘Akilisi's proposal if they still wanted to pursue it, should be included in the House Agenda for debate.

In the meantime, the civil servants strike is into its eighth day and a crowd was rallying at Pangai si'i while waiting for a decision from Government who had a Cabinet meeting today, July 29.