The University of the South Pacific Staff Union is now demanding pay increments for USP’s intermediate and junior staff and hourly paid staff.
This is after the union organized a protest earlier today which was intervened by the Ministry of Employment officials.
Union President, Rueben Colata says the Ministry has liaised with the union and confirmed to them that a meeting has been organized with USP officials next week.
Colata says the union’s main issue is the salary increase proposal that it had put to USP earlier in the year.
He says in 2016, the union was told by USP that they would not have the money to pay everybody at that time, so the union had said once USP gathers funds to pay everybody, negotiations would begin, but nothing has been done.
He adds that he had also received an email by the Vice Chancellor stating the increments are being handled by the Deputy Vice Chancellor.
Meanwhile USP says there is a collective agreement 2016‑2018 with the union which requires the parties to discuss and reach mutual agreement on the issues.
The university has clarified that it is following the law and the Human Resource internal procedures in dealing with issues raised by staff associations.
USP has also stated that discussions are currently undergoing with the USP Staff Association on the issues raised.
It says in this particular case, the University is following the advice of the Ministry of Employment to address the issues of the association.
