ASPEN Medical has less than 16 days before more than 200 employees walk off their jobs on February 6.

At a meeting with Aspen Medical Ba Hospital members on Tuesday, national secretary of the Construction, Energy and Timber Workers Union of Fiji (CETWUF) John Paul said the company should not pass their issues to the Government.

“Aspen Medical should not pass the buck to the Government and say that the issues between it and the union are in the Government’s court,” said Mr Paul.

“As far as CETWUF is concerned, the 200 workers of the two hospitals who are our members are employed by Aspen Medical and not the Government.”

Mr Paul said the union members had been accommodating in the negotiations.

“By law, the union was supposed to give at least 14 days notice of a strike to Aspen Medical, but thinking about the people who access services at the two hospitals, we gave them an extra week in case they change their mind and come to the table before February 6.

“But it seems that they are not interested in negotiating with the union and resolving the dispute.”

Mr Paul said the Government should know that the union had exhausted all avenues and taking the strike action was the last resort to ensure the workers’ demands are met by Aspen Medical.

He reiterated that the workers would go on strike at 7am on February 6 if nothing was done by the company or Government to resolve the dispute.

Meanwhile, an Aspen Medical spokesperson said they would continue to follow due process.

“Aspen Medical has met with CETWUF and also attended mediation with the union, and they have been informed of the process we are legally required to follow,” the spokesperson said.

“The union are aware that this matter now rests with the Government, and we await the decision. The care and wellbeing of our patients and our team is our primary concern.

“Should this strike action go ahead, our contingency plan to provide uninterrupted healthcare services to the people of Fiji will be rolled out.”

Source: The Fiji Times