Strike threat looms for USP

Members of the Association of University of the South Pacific Staff and USP Staff Union cast their secret ballots for industrial action at their respective campuses around Fiji today.

Association of USP Staff General Secretary, Rosalia Fatiaki says unfortunately the last triennium salary adjustment was in 2018, and the USP staff are missing out on salary adjustments for 2 trienniums (2019-2021) and (2022-2024).

She says with the high cost of living, salaries must be adjusted correctly to maintain decent livelihoods, and the union demands that the salaries be backdated to 2019.

Fatiaki adds that USP awarded 2 percent in October 2022, another 2 percent in January 2023 and another 2 percent in January 2024 without backdating and without consultation with the unions.

She says the lack of consultation with the union is bad faith.

Fatiaki also says the FNPF contribution of an additional 2 percent given by USP to senior staff as a benefit was withdrawn during the COVID-19 period when the Fiji government mandated the reduction in the FNPF contribution.

She says the union demands that USP reinstates the additional 2 percent contribution to FNPF.

A mandate for strike action will only be achieved with over 50 percent of the members voting for strike.

When questioned by fijivillage News on whether the USP staff will go on strike if they get the mandate, Fatiaki says they will take that option after they get the vote and consult with their members.

When asked on issues relating to classes getting affected for the students and whether the unions are still ready to speak to the USP management, Fatiaki says they have always held negotiations with the management, and she hopes good sense will prevail, and their employer gets them out of the deadlock.

We have sent questions to the USP management.

fijivillage News is also trying to get the USP Students Association.