Why Vanuatu's Supreme Court has quashed a decision to suspend over 600 striking teachers
Vanuatu’s Supreme Court has overturned the suspension and dismissal of more than 600 teachers who took part in a strike over unpaid entitlements.
The court ruled that the teachers' strike, which began in June last year and ended in August 2024, was legal.
The decision is a major win for the Vanuatu Teachers Union, which organised the industrial action after long-standing disputes over payroll issues.
Judge Edwin Peter Goldsbrough said there was no evidence that the strike breached procedures, despite claims from the Teaching Service Commission, which oversees teachers' contracts.
Teachers went on strike after the government moved their payroll budget from the Ministry of Education to the Teaching Service Commission.
Talks between the two sides collapsed after one party failed to attend three separate meetings led by a conciliator.
An agreement was later signed in June 2024, and teachers agreed to return to work once they received partial payments.
But as delays in payment continued, more teachers were suspended.
Eventually, over 600 teachers had been removed from their roles.
In March this year, the Minister of Education, Simil Johnson, said the government had committed to settling outstanding payments worth four billion vatu (about US$34 million).
According to him, some of the teachers’ claims lacked evidence, albeit stressing that legal entitlements were already being paid and would continue to be processed.
A government review found that, of 1,192 claims for principal and deputy principal allowances, only 496 were confirmed and paid, while 461 were rejected.
The union described the court ruling as a victory not only for teachers but for all workers in the country.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
