Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has stated that the University of the South Pacific (USP) staff unions participating in the strike have followed all required protocols. This is the first formal response from the Government since the University Staff and Support Staff Union (USPU) and the Association of USP Staff (AUSPS) commenced their strike last Friday.
The USP, along with Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro and Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations Agni Deo Singh, has not yet commented on the strike at the Laucala Campus.
Rabuka informed reporters that he has authorized Radrodro to convene a meeting of the USP Council. He confirmed that the USP staff unions are complying with the strike regulations stipulated in the Employment Relations Act 2007. Furthermore, he noted that student support services at the USP Laucala Campus continue to operate normally, thanks to staff members who are either not part of the unions or have opted not to strike.
Rabuka also granted the Minister for Education permission to summon a USP Council meeting to discuss the demands put forth by the staff unions.
On Thursday, Agnes Kotoisuva, the USP executive director for People’s and Workplace Strategy, hinted in a staff email that the university may seek legal action to challenge the rulings of the Permanent Secretary of Employment, Productivity, and Workplace Relations.
The grievances of the two staff unions arise from outcomes of a recent Special Council meeting, which they believe only addressed human resource issues while failing to fully investigate concerns related to the poor leadership of Vice-Chancellor Pal. The unions are also troubled by leadership issues within the university and the controversial termination of USP biologist Professor Tamara Osborne-Naikatini in July.