The PSA video chatted with Saina Tomi Setu (pictured, far left) from Samoa First Union about the union’s success in opening their Workers Advice Centre in Apia, Samoa – the first of its kind.
The discussion was facilitated by UnionAID, a New Zealand-based organisation that supports workers in neighbouring Pacific countries to build unions, provide training and empower workers through collective action.
Samoa First Union (SFU) represents workers in the private sector, fisheries and the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme, travelling to New Zealand and Australia.
The private sector is the lowest-paid industry in Samoa, compounded by an extremely low minimum wage.
In 2015, the minimum wage in Samoa was $2 WS (Samoan tālā), approximately $1.20 NZD. After years of campaigning to raise the minimum wage, in 2020, SFU successfully secured an amendment to Samoa’s Labour Employment Relations Act (LERA), mandating a biennial review of the minimum wage. As of 1 July 2024, the minimum wage sits at $4.84 WS, and will continue to be reviewed every two years.
“The union was part of that changing from the beginning,” she says.
Adapting approaches
SFU found after years of union organising that New Zealand and Australia union approaches didn’t gain traction with Samoan communities. As many private sector employers in Samoa are hostile to the union, workplace visits are often unsuccessful, hampering recruitment. Saina recalls a time where visiting FIRST Union New Zealand organisers attempted to speak to workers at a local hotel, and were chased out by management.
“That’s a cultural difference I found out compared to New Zealand, Australia. In some of my visiting I saw that it’s free for the organiser to walk in during lunchtime, have a chat in the worksite with the workers. In our islands, that’s really hard to do….They don’t want us to come and ask questions, even if we’re not interfering in working time – they don’t allow us onto the premises,” she says.
Responding to these challenges, SFU organises workshops in community spaces, to educate workers and gather stories to inform research on what issues are impacting Samoan workers most. For some workers, sharing workplace issues can be challenging, so SFU can opt to talanoa (discuss) with an affected worker’s families, friends, parents, or village chiefs.
Through their community talanoa, SFU realised that the need for a Workers Advice Centre was strong, and they began to fundraise through UnionAID.
Starting the Centre
“During our education sessions with the community, it drew to our attention that there’s a need for workers to understand [unions and workers’ rights], and for us to assist them with the issues they’re facing. Since the starting of Samoa First Union, one of our objectives was to help workers with [employment] grievances. Low pay grows harassment and unjustified dismissal in the workplace, due to [the inability to afford lawyers].
“By getting the workers to the [Centre], we try to get them to share the difficulties they’re facing [regarding] their working conditions,” says Saina.
According to the UnionAID website, “The Workers Advice Centre (WAC), funded by UnionAID, is aimed at supporting and empowering low-paid workers, including Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) workers and community members who seek advice on employment-related issues. The centre’s mission is to provide a comprehensive support system addressing various aspects of employment, particularly for those preparing to work abroad or needing guidance on their rights and entitlements.”
“We understand if we build them strong like they understand the law, they will never [be] afraid of telling what is right and what is wrong. So that's the main key role of the union. So even our RSE and seasonal workers, that's the main reason why we want to keep these things going, to make sure we have our time with them before they leave the island.
“We explain to them in the Samoan language in a way that helps them understand. We tell them we have partnerships with some unions in New Zealand, Australia. They give us ideas of working conditions in Australia and New Zealand, so we can tell [other RSE workers] about that before they leave the island.
“So by the time they arrive there, they have confidence. So I think that's the key purpose of the Centre for all the workers in Samoa,” Saina says.
What’s surprised Saina the most about setting up the Centre is how many more workers the union can reach.
“It's really helped to make the workers come freely to us and share with us. Because sometimes if we went to the worksite or find them in front of bus stops and areas like that, we don’t want to take all their time because they rush to catch the bus back home.
“So that’s why it’s very important to set this up, to let them come in their spare time.”
Building power
Another goal the union is working towards, with the connections they build through the Centre, is to successfully bargain and sign Samoa’s first collective employment agreement.
“In Samoa, it's really hard to recruit and organise private sector workers due to law barriers. We are focusing at the moment as much as we can to get the information we need from workers, so it's easy for us to work and recruit as much of them [as we can], so we can negotiate with the company.
“If we get that done, that would be a milestone for the union, because since day one, there's been no collective…agreements signed by a company and a union in Samoa.”
Every day there’s good news at the Centre, Saina says.
“It’s a relief when we find out the workers who came out to seek help, got what he or she wants….It’s touching when someone calls you…and says ‘thank you, I got what I needed when I came to see you, I got this.’ Even with this changing of the minimum wage, people have been calling us to say thank you for the work that’s been done. Yeah, it makes my day,” she says.
Cross-Pacific solidarity
The support from unionists across the Pacific through UnionAID has been important to the success of the Centre, Saina says.
On May Day this year, SFU fundraised through UnionAID to keep the Workers Advice Centre open, reaching 131% of their fundraising goal.
The Centre project has helped overcome barriers for low-income workers accessing help, as some are paid too little to spare the income for union membership dues. With the Centre open, union and non-union workers are able to access the resources they need.
“To open our door to anyone who needs help to come to us - that’s why we were so thankful and grateful to UnionAID to respond to the proposal we put forward.
“The role that UnionAID, FIRST Union New Zealand, even some unions in Australia, have stepped into – it’s not only helping SFU members, but it’s helping someone in the community,” Saina says.
Looking ahead
Saina’s hope for the future of the Centre is that it stays open for all workers in Samoa, to equip them with everything they need to thrive, and that future generations are educated on labour rights and the role of trade unions from a young age.
“My aspirations for this project…to make sure we carry on and educate our workers well in their rights…to reach out to the community, to educate all of them – to make sure no one’s left behind.”