Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has stated that the staff members of the University of the South Pacific (USP) unions participating in the strike have followed all necessary procedures. This is the first official response from the Government following the walkout by the University Staff and Support Staff Union (USPU) and the Association of USP Staff (AUSPS) last Friday.
Both the USP and Ministers Aseri Radrodro and Agni Deo Singh have not publicly commented on the strike occurring at the Laucala Campus. However, Prime Minister Rabuka confirmed that he has authorized Minister Radrodro to convene a meeting of the USP Council.
“The USP Staff union is operating in accordance with the provisions and procedures for a strike as outlined in the Employment Relations Act 2007,” Rabuka stated. He also noted that all student support services at the Laucala Campus continue to function normally, thanks to staff members who are either not part of the unions or who have opted not to strike.
Furthermore, Rabuka has empowered the Minister for Education to organize a meeting of the USP Council to discuss the claims put forth by the staff unions. Last Thursday, Agnes Kotoisuva, the executive director for People’s and Workplace Strategy at USP, indicated in a staff email that the university may pursue legal action against the rulings from the Permanent Secretary of Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations.
The unions’ grievances arise from the outcomes of a recent Special Council meeting, which they claim focused solely on human resources issues while neglecting concerns about the leadership of Vice-Chancellor and President Pal. They also expressed worries regarding inadequate leadership within the university hierarchy and the controversial termination of Professor Tamara Osborne-Naikatini, a USP biologist, in July.