Vava'u and Ha'apai civil servants join strike at Pangai Si'i [1]
Friday, September 2, 2005 - 19:15. Updated on Thursday, May 8, 2014 - 21:54.
Photos and story by Linny Folau
Large groups of civil servants from Vava'u and Ha'apai staged two colourful marches in Nuku'alofa today in solidarity with Tongatapu strikers.
The two outer islands groups, arrived yesterday evening on the Pulupaki ferry. Bringing six pound cans of corn beef and a mass display of tapa cloths and decorative mats they took center stage at Pangai Si'i, Nuku'alofa, this morning.
Seventy seven of the Ha...apai strikers who came joined together with their people residing in Tongatapu and began their march from the Basilica Catholic Church, waving banners and singing hymns.
A speaker representing strikers from Ha'apai told the crowd that they came to Tongatapu to show the Interim Committee that they had their full backing since day one of the strike. He said that since they left their various work places and went home they lived in uncertainty, as they feared the outcome of their actions. But by hearing the encouragement from the Interim Committee in Tongatapu that negotiations were underway they now felt that their pleas for a 60, 70 and 80% salary rise would be accepted soon.
Meanwhile, the Vava'u strikers marched from the opposite site of the capital from the Fasi mo e Afi Yacht Club, while pounding on corn beef cans and honking vehicle horns.
Corned beef
Vava'u strikers arrived at the Pangai Si'i entrance dancing and pounding on corn beef cans, waiting impatiently to take center stage after Ha'apai.
When they finally got to the center of the park the scene was hilarious as dancing women began smashing corn beef onto the ground and putting it on their faces and bodies.
...Opeti Pulotu, the Chairman of Vava...u civil servants strikers who led a group of 200 said that they would remain in Tongatapu until their request for the salary rise was accepted.
Tonga Finau, a member of the PSA Interim Committee welcomed them to Pangai Si...i and deeply thanked the two outer islands groups for sailing to Tongatapu in support of their theme ... Unity and Solidarity Forever ....