One of the leaders of the Public Servants Association (PSA) made the executive decision to bring up labor grievances directly with the Tongan government.
During the strike, the Public Service Association was founded, with an emphasis on a nonviolent movement protest, although it wasn't officially a union.
[2] On 25 July, 2,000 striking public servants were made as they rallied at Queen Sālote Hall and then continued on to the parliament building, where they displayed their letter of petition to the Speaker of the House, which demanded pay increases ranging from 60–80%.
The PSA then planned a march on King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV, which would be led by "The People's Prince" Tuʻipelehake on 8 August.
[2] Negotiations occurred twice more, with the first utilizing a judge from New Zealand as a mediator and ending only after three days when the PSA stated they would strike until their demands were met.
[2] Many of the PSA leaders saw the strike as an opportunity to address the systemic issues found within the representative government of Tonga, specifically the potential of allowing, creating, and developing trade unions for Tongan workers.
[2] A further expansion of strike demands was made, with new calls for the resignation of the King's cabinet as well as the opportunity to vote for a democratically elected parliament.