Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has acknowledged that members of the University of the South Pacific (USP) staff unions, who initiated a strike, have adhered to all required procedures. This statement marks the government’s first official response since members of the University Staff and Support Staff Union (USPU) and the Association of USP Staff (AUSPS) began their strike last Friday.
Despite the ongoing strike at the Laucala Campus, the USP administration, Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro, and Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations Agni Deo Singh have yet to comment on the situation.
Prime Minister Rabuka informed that he has authorized Minister Radrodro to convene a meeting of the USP Council. He stated, “The USP Staff union is in compliance with the provisions and procedures for a strike as set out in the Employment Relations Act 2007.”
Rabuka also noted that all student support services at the USP Laucala Campus continue to operate normally, facilitated by non-union staff members and union members who have opted not to participate in the strike.
Furthermore, he has empowered the Minister for Education to hold a meeting of the USP Council to discuss the claims brought forth by the staff unions.
In a recent email to staff, Agnes Kotoisuva, USP’s executive director for People’s and Workplace Strategy, hinted at the university’s plans to pursue legal action in response to the Permanent Secretary of Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations’ decisions.
The unions’ grievances originate from the outcomes of a recent Special Council meeting, which they contended only focused on human resources issues while neglecting concerns regarding the leadership of Vice-Chancellor Pal. They have also raised issues about poor leadership structure at the university and the controversial termination of USP biologist Professor Tamara Osborne-Naikatini in July.