Energy Fiji Limited (EFL) employees are set to go on strike starting February 25, 2026, unless the management engages in meaningful discussions with the Construction, Energy and Timber Workers Union of Fiji regarding unresolved employment matters. The announcement follows a Notice of Strike issued on January 9, after a secret ballot was conducted in 2025 among the EFL workforce.
J A Paul, the National Secretary of the union, emphasized that the decision to strike is taken with regret due to EFL’s status as an essential service, where any industrial action could significantly disrupt electricity supply across the nation. The union represents about 500 EFL employees, and its membership continues to expand.
The strike notice comes in the wake of EFL’s refusal to negotiate a 10 percent wage increase for the years 2024 and 2025, alongside failures to pay shift allowances and live-line allowances for crane operators. Additionally, there has been resistance to upgrading pay rates for live-line workers. Paul characterizes these wage demands as “catch-up claims,” arguing they are necessary due to over a decade of declining worker conditions since EFL was designated an essential industry in 2011, which limited collective bargaining efforts.
Since the declaration, no collective agreement has been finalized between 2011 and 2022, which has led to lower wages, diminished benefits, and the loss of skilled workers seeking opportunities elsewhere. Furthermore, the union reported inequity in pay, citing that nine senior EFL executives collectively earned $3.3 million in 2024, marking a 14 percent increase, while regular employees did not receive any raises.
In a concerning development, EFL has initiated legal action against the union, alleging defamation over communications issued to its members, a move Paul describes as unprecedented and a tactic to intimidate the workforce. The union is now calling for intervention from the Prime Minister and the Government, urging them to facilitate negotiations between the union and EFL management.
While the union is willing to engage in dialogue, Paul has reiterated their commitment to defending the rights of workers, warning that a failure to address these issues could lead to significant disruption nationwide. The call for engagement and negotiation reflects a hopeful willingness from the union to find a resolution while highlighting the importance of fair labor practices in critical industries.