THE University of the South Pacific’s Staff Union has been told by USP that they will not be getting any back pay this year.
USPSU general secretary Litiana Waqalevu has once again lashed out at USP senior executives claiming the Intermediate and Junior (I&J) and Hourly paid staff have not been paid their Collective Agreement (CA) adjustments backdated to 2017.
Ms Waqalevu said they were to receive the CA two weeks ago but that did not eventuate.
She added she received a letter from USP’s acting Director Human Resources Anjeela Jokhan last week in which it was stated that they would not be getting their back pay this year.
Ms Waqalevu said they could not do anything now as staff were going on leave and holidays and they would take action in the new year.
“The Ministry of Labour closes next week so we cannot do anything right now. We will when the school opens next year. Even if they don’t allow us, we will protest and march and go on a strike just like ATS did,” she said.
“The I&J and Hourly Paid staff members have been waiting since 2016 for a salary review. Included was supposed to have been payments resulting from a Job Evaluation Exercise that has not happened for the last 24 years. Results have been received by USP in October, but we all have been kept in the dark about this.
“To conclude, the 50th Anniversary year, the USP 50th year Anniversary Committee did not organise any staff celebration of any kind for the Laucala staff but is organizing a $200 ticket 50th celebration dinner at the GPH on December 13th.
“Our category of staff has about 50 per cent of staff earning $300 – $500 a fortnight in salary and guesses how many would pay that $200?”
Attempts have been made to obtain comments from USP’s vice-chancellor Professor Rajesh Chandra and have proved futile.
Questions regarding the issue had been sent to Professor Chandra and USP’s communication team on November 29.
The only response from USP’s communication team was last week (December 3rd), in which they stated that were currently in the process of compiling a response to our questions.
