We have met with Dr Osbourne-Naikatini and told her to lodge an employment grievance on her issue - Singh

Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations, Agni Deo Singh says the Ministry is aware of the matter of the recent termination of Dr Tamara Osbourne-Naikatini, the President of the Association of USP Staff (AUSPS) and the team has met with her and advised her to lodge an employment grievance on the issue.

Singh says Dr Osbourne-Naikatini was also briefed on ILO Convention 87 on the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Rights to Organise, which is one of the eight fundamental ILO Conventions that safeguards the rights of both employees and employers to freely organise.

In response to the media comment made by the member of the Opposition, Jone Usamate as the former Minister for Employment, Singh says Usamate should be the last person to talk about workers’ rights as his government dismantled and compromised the rights of workers in this country.

He adds the Ministry is now burdened with reviewing the labour laws to restore these rights.

The Minister reiterated that the Ministry would ensure that justice is served in accordance with the law and a fair and transparent resolution process, which respects the legal rights of all parties involved.

Meanwhile, Usamate had made a call to the Fiji Government and in particular, Minister for Employment, Agni Deo Singh to urgently investigate the sacking of Doctor Tamara Osborne Naikatini, Lecturer in Biology and President of the Association of USP staff (AUSPS).

Usamate says Agni Deo Singh preaches the rights and responsibilities of Trade Unions and Associations.

He says Singh should immediately institute an inquiry.

Usamate also says Minister for Education, Aseri Radrodro, also as Fiji’s member of the USP Council should look at how USP is treating Fijian academics and regional academics.

He has made the call as he says Pal Ahluwalia, Vice Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific is again at the centre of controversy and in the news.

Usamate says Doctor Naikatini is a well-educated Fijian academic whom USP should be promoting rather than someone coming from outside the region and terminating her just because she has been vocal against the Vice Chancellor, as a USP Union representative.

He says Ahluwalia’s actions are tantamount to bullying and suppression of free speech by an academic as well as stifling the activities of the USP Union that represents the staff of USP.

We have sent questions to Radrodro. He has yet to respond.

The University of the South Pacific will not comment on the termination of Dr Osborne-Naikatini, stating that all staff contracts, including terminations, are confidential.