USP staff gather in numbers for peaceful protest

The University of the South Pacific staff gathered in unity this morning to convey to the USP Council members their despair in not having their paper on the council agenda.

President of the USP Staff Association Elizabeth Fong says they had submitted a council paper in response to decisions of the May council meeting, which were to update them with other issues, but that has been prevented in consultation with the Vice Chancellor to not have it on the agenda.

Fong says this gathering is to put pressure on them.

She says the salary adjustment the staff is entitled for is for the last 5 years, which is an issue they have been reiterating.

Fong says they have evidence based on the reports for the past few years that the University has money.

She adds that the VC turns 65-years-old in February, and his contract ends in August, and they are recommending that the position be advertised and the best regional person for this position identified.

She says the staff were also overloaded with work, but they kept on going because the student's welfare was paramount in terms of getting the services they needed, but over a period of time it affected the health of the staff.

The USP Council meeting is still underway at the USP Japan ICT Centre.