Teachers union calls for 15% pay increase

The Fiji Teachers Union (FTU) has proposed a 15 per cent pay rise for teachers.

FTU president Sashi Mahendra Shandil made the call at the union’s 96th annual conference at Xavier College Hall in Ba on Tuesday night.

He said investing in teachers would deliver long-term national benefits.

“This must be a budgetary truth and our moral claim,” Mr Shandil said.

“This is not just a union concern. It is a national mission. Fiji’s strength will be measured not only by slogans or statistics, but by the dignity of its classrooms and the stability of its teachers.

“We must not accept decline. We must demand renewal, and act with unity, courage and clarity.”

Mr Shandil said the FTU aimed to bridge the gap between teachers’ realities and policymakers.

“We will hold policymakers to account, but we also extend the hand of partnership. Work with us. Design solutions with us. Deliver outcomes for our teachers and our children,” he said.

He urged that the 96th annual conference mark a shift from rhetoric to results.

“Let us leave here with a clear plan, a credible timeline and a renewed commitment to place teachers at the centre of national progress.

“We are not asking for charity; we are asking for justice and investment. When teachers thrive, the nation thrives.

“We are asking for fair pay, safe schools and clear promotion — dignity for every teacher.”

The FTU has also proposed a phased salary adjustment over three to five years, with benchmarks and inflation safeguards.

Other proposals include a job evaluation exercise and a national audit of school conditions, with a targeted infrastructure fund for the most affected schools within two years.

The union has also called for a revised promotion framework developed jointly with the Ministry of Education, with clear criteria, timelines and an independent appeals process.

It has proposed a national retention package, including housing support for remote teachers, hardship allowances and bonded scholarships for trainees.

Additional measures include a teacher wellbeing and safety protocol, with reporting systems, counselling support and regional helplines.

The FTU is also calling for a national campaign to elevate the teaching profession and counter emigration trends.