View source for Sugar Cane farmers unions in Fiji

{{Short description|Farmer's union}}
{{onesource|date=December 2009}}
There have been numerous '''[[sugar cane]] farmers−growers [[trade union]]s in [[Fiji]]''' and in the preceding British [[Colony of Fiji]] (1874−1970).
Some of the Fijian cane growers unions are/were provincially based, as indicated by their names: Nadroga Fijian Cane Growers Association in [[Nadroga-Navosa Province]], the Ra Fijian Cane Growers Association in [[Ra Province]], and the Ba Fijian Cane Growers Association in [[Ba Province]]. Other regionally based unions include [[Labasa Kisan Sangh]], the [[Rewa Planters Union]], and the [[Southern Division Kisan Sangh]].
Other farmers unions were formed to provide leverage to ethnic sections of the community, such as [[Indians in Fiji]] and indigenous [[Fijian people]].
==History==
The first farmers union in Fiji was the [[Indian Cane Growers Association]], established in 1919.<ref>{{Cite thesis |title=Small sugar farmer agency in the tropics 1872-1914 and the anomalous Herbert River Farmers' Association |url=https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/62235/ |publisher=James Cook University |date=2019 |degree=phd |doi=10.25903/5e461faf4ed40 |language=en |first=Bianka |last=Vidonja Balanzategui |page=150}}</ref> It negotiated with the [[Colonial Sugar Refining Company (Fiji)|Colonial Sugar Refining Company]], the predominant sugar cane plantations and raw sugar production company established in 1880. The 1921 strike by sugar cane farmers was a spontaneous action led by [[Vashist Muni]].
Umbrella organisations were formed to present a united front in negotiating with the CSR and later the [[Fiji Sugar Corporation|Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC)]] (est. 1973). In 1959, the Federation of Cane Growers was formed, and in 1980 the Joint Committee of Cane Growers Associations was formed.
===Ethnicity and unions===
The Fijian cane growers unions were ethnically and provincially based as indicated by their names; [[Nadroga Fijian Cane Growers Association]], the [[Ra Fijian Cane Growers Association]], and the [[Ba Fijian Cane Growers Association]]. Some unions claimed to be open for everyone but their membership indicated sectional interest. For example, the [[Maha Sangh]] had a predominantly [[South Indians in Fiji|South Indian]] membership, the [[Vishal Sangh]] had a predominantly [[Sikh]] membership, and the [[Kisan Sangh]] had a predominantly [[North Indian culture|North Indian]] membership.
In 1959, when the [[Federation of Cane Growers]] was negotiating the new cane contract with the [[Colonial Sugar Refining Company (Fiji)|Colonial Sugar Refining Company (CSR)]], three [[Fijian people|indigenous Fijian]] cane farmers unions were set up to send three Fijian delegates to the Federation although ethnic Fijians made up less than 5% of the cane farmers.
==List of unions==
Current and former sugar cane farmers−growers unions in Fiji, by date established, include:
* 1919 - [[Indian Cane Growers Association]]
* 1934 - [[Planters Association (Fiji)|Planters Association]]
* 1937 - [[Kisan Sangh]]
* 1941 - [[Maha Sangh]]
* 1953 - [[Rewa Planters Union]]
* 1946 - [[Vishal Sangh]]
* 1946 - [[Southern Division Kisan Sangh]]
* 1950 - [[Labasa Kisan Sangh]]
* 1959 - [[Federation of Cane Growers]]
* 1959 - [[Nadroga Fijian Cane Growers Association]]
* 1959 - [[Ra Fijian Cane Growers Association]]
* 1959 - [[Ba Fijian Cane Growers Association]]
* 1979 - [[National Farmers Union of Fiji]]
* 1980 - [[Joint Committee of Cane Growers Associations]]
* 1992 - [[Fiji Cane Growers Association]]
==See also==
* {{C|Sugar industry of Fiji}}
* {{C|Trade unions in Fiji}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sugar Cane Farmers Unions In Fiji}}
[[Category:Trade unions in Fiji|.]]
[[Category:Fiji Indian organisations|.]]
[[Category:Cane growers unions of Fiji|*]]
[[Category:Sugar industry of Fiji]]