Fed: Solomons attempts to ban unions will fail ACTU

AAP General News (Australia)
12-11-2000
Fed: Solomons attempts to ban unions will fail ACTU

The ACTU says any attempt by the Solomon Islands government to ban trade unions is
doomed to failure.

ACTU secretary GREG COMBET says the peak union body is discussing the issue with its
trade union colleagues in the islands and will consider what action to take.

The ABC has reported the Solomons' Prime Minister MANASSEH SOGAVARE has foreshadowed
a possible move to outlaw trade unions.

Mr SOGAVARE -- in his last speech to Parliament for this year -- said unionism had
no place in a small economy like the Solomons.

The ABC reports he said unionism was a foreign concept that would have to be reconsidered.

Mr COMBET says the ACTU is concerned about any attempts to ban unions.

Mr COMBET says the ACTU has strong contacts with Solomons unions, through ACTU president
SHARAN BURROW who's president of the Asia-Pacific union body, ACFTU-APRO.

AAP RTV dep/daw/jtb/jn

KEYWORD: SOLOMONS UNIONS (CANBERRA)

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