The Air Tahiti strike casts a cloud of uncertainty over whether the Hawaiki Nui Va’a will take place or in what format. Asked about the stoppage, CSIP spokesperson Cyril Le Gayic said he “couldn’t care less” about the competition, insisting that employees’ demands would not be sidelined to ensure its smooth running. Those remarks drew a reaction from the organizers, who remain undecided about the event’s fate: the Hawaiki Nui “is not just a competition,” it represents a major economic, social, and human stake for the Raromatai.
As the Hawaiki Nui Va’a is set to run from October 28 to 31, the remarks made Thursday morning by Cyril Le Gayic regarding the competition are drawing responses. When questioned at the airport about the Air Tahiti strike, the CSIP spokesperson declared that he “couldn’t care less” about the race, reminding that the workers’ demands would not be set aside to allow the event to proceed smoothly.
Within the historic domestic airline, CSIP, O oe to oe Rima, and the Flight Attendants’ Union are demanding in particular new equipment, additional staff to guarantee flight safety, and a revaluation of their bonuses. According to management, these bonuses constitute the main sticking point in negotiations, in a difficult economic context for the Polynesian aviation sector, marked notably by deficits and rising oil prices.
If air traffic disruptions are anticipated, they could also affect passengers wishing to travel to the Raromatai to attend the Hawaiki Nui Va’a. Asked by the media, Cyril Le Gayic also mentioned another option for travelers: “Besides air travel, there are boats.”
Demands that are “legitimate and worthy of being heard”
In a response to an article published by TNTV, the organizing committee of the Hawaiki Nui Va’a emphasizes that the event goes far beyond sport and represents a major economic and human stake for the Raromatai. Every year, the competition brings together rowers, volunteers, families and thousands of supporters between Huahine, Raiatea, Taha’a and Bora Bora. For the rowers, it marks the culmination of months of preparation and sacrifice. For local economic players, notably merchants, lodging providers and transporters, this period also represents an important opportunity.
The organizers specify, however, that they never asked for the suspension of the demands of Air Tahiti and SOMSTAT workers. They acknowledge that these demands are “legitimate and deserve to be heard.” They nevertheless stress that the sea links cannot, on their own, absorb all travel related to the competition. The situation is all the more delicate as the Hawaiki Nui Va’a coincides with the start of school holidays, a period during which inter-island travel is particularly busy.
The organizers nevertheless welcome the CSIP’s willingness to take school constraints into account. They believe it remains possible to reconcile the defense of workers’ rights with the needs of the population and the potential impact of disruptions on the Raromatai’s economy.
A few days before this major event on the Polynesian sports calendar, the question remains: will it be possible to find a solution to the conflict without penalizing travelers, local economic actors and the participants of the competition? Between defending workers’ rights and maintaining the Hawaiki Nui Va’a, the parties are now called to find a solution that takes everyone’s interests into account.
