Staff Strike In Compliance: PM

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has indicated that members of the University of the South Pacific (USP) staff unions who are engaged in the strike have complied with all necessary procedures.

This marks the first official comment from Government since University Staff and Support Staff Union (USPU) and the Association of USP Staff (AUSPS) walked out of their jobs last Friday to stage the strike.

The USP, Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro and Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations, Agni Deo Singh have all remained silent over the strike at the Laucala Campus.

Mr Rabuka yesterday told this masthead that he has authorised Mr Radrodro to call a meeting of the USP Council.

“The USP Staff union is in compliance with the provisions and procedures for a strike as set out in the Employment Relations Act 2007,” Mr Rabuka said.

“I have also been informed that all USP Laucala Cam-pus’ student support services are operating as normal by staff members who are not union members as well as staff who are union members but have chosen not to go on strike.

“I have also authorised the Minister for Education to call for a meeting of the USP Council to deliberate on the log of claims from the USP Staff unions.”

Last Thursday, USP executive director for People’s and Workplace Strategy, Agnes Kotoisuva hinted in a staff email about the university’s intention of ‘taking appropriate legal action against the rulings of the Permanent Secretary of Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations.”

The two staff union’s grievances stem from a recent Special Council meeting outcome which they argued only addressed human re-sources issues to be investigated over addressing poor leadership of VCP Pal.

The unions are also concerned about the poor hierarchy leadership at the university and the ‘wrongful’ termination of USP biologist professor Tamara Osborne-Naikatini in July.

Feedback: jone.salusalu@fijisun.com.fj