MINISTER SIMIL JOHNSON CLARIFIES CBA DELAY AND TEACHER STRIKE

June 8, 2025

In a recent news bulletin aired by the Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation (VBTC), Minister of Education Hon. Simil Johnson publicly addressed the controversy surrounding the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the government and the Vanuatu Teachers Union (VTU).

The Minister explained that the CBA has not yet been signed because the government is still in the process of verifying claims and payments owed to teachers. According to him, ensuring the accuracy of these financial obligations is critical before any formal agreement is endorsed.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to processing all verified entitlements, stating that no delays should be expected for payments that pass verification. “Every payment is being checked. Any delay in that process will be questioned,” the Minister stated.

Warning to Teachers on Strike Participation

In the same VBTC segment, Minister Johnson issued a firm warning to teachers involved in the ongoing strike action. He reminded educators that the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) is monitoring the situation closely, and any teacher who joins a strike without valid grounds could face disciplinary action, including impacts on their appointment status and contracts.

The Minister’s tone suggested the government views unverified strike participation as not only disruptive but potentially unlawful under existing service conditions.

Government Reassures, But Union Stands Firm

Despite the government’s reassurance, the VTU remains clear: teachers will not return to classrooms until the CBA is signed. This hardline stance highlights a deep divide between the union’s demands and the government’s procedural pace.

Minister Johnson, however, emphasized the importance of national stability, especially in the education sector, stating that both the present and future of Vanuatu rely on the decisions being made now.

The Bigger Picture: Court Ruling and Public Pressure

The timing of this VBTC address is critical. The statement comes just after a Supreme Court ruling in favor of the VTU, which has further strengthened the union’s case and public sympathy. With the legal barrier removed, many now expect the government to act swiftly and negotiate in good faith.

The public, particularly through online platforms like Yumi Toktok Stret, has been demanding transparency and urging both parties to come to the table. The VBTC interview was the first major televised comment from the Ministry of Education since the court’s decision.

The Vanuatu Teacher Conflict: A Chronology of Key Events (1993 – Present)

This timeline focuses on the recent major industrial actions and legal proceedings, but it’s important to note that disputes over pay and working conditions between the government and teachers have a much longer history, dating back to at least the early 1990s.

May 1993: Vanuatu Teachers Union (VTU) initiated a strike over a pay claim. The strike collapsed after 12 days, with teachers reinstated and a promise of a future pay rise. During this period, the government argued that the Trade Disputes Act did not apply to state employees, and teachers were simply refusing a directive to return to work. Picketing of the Ministry of Education and Parliament occurred, leading to arrests, including the VTU President. A court later declared the picketing legal.
May 2018: VTU proposed a strike regarding grievances over remuneration, housing, and child allowances. This strike was called off after an agreement was reached, including the union’s involvement in negotiations.
November 2019: Members of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the VTU were elected.
January 2022 (Proposed Strike): The VTU proposed a month-long strike (Jan 9 – Feb 7, 2022) involving 1,679 teachers, citing 14 points including underpayment of salaries, cash incentives, severance pay, and various allowances. The strike was denied by authorities, and the TSC warned teachers against participation, emphasizing the continuity of learning. The VTU believed the existing Memorandum of Agreement (June 2000) was being administered inconsistently with orderly collective bargaining.
April 14, 2022: The TSC suspended second claimants (teachers who were also VTU NEC members) on half-pay, alleging breach of Section 48 of the Teaching Service Act (private employment outside TSC without prior written approval, receiving allowances, improper conduct).
July 2022: The suspended teachers responded to the TSC investigation, disputing that their VTU engagement was “private employment” or fell under the “community and professional organisations” exception.
August 8, 2022: The TSC decided the second claimants had breached Section 48.
September 9, 2022: The TSC informed the second claimants that their employment would be terminated unless they resigned from their VTU NEC posts within seven days. Restraining orders from the Supreme Court prevented immediate terminations.
Early May 2024: The VTU notified the Commissioner of Labor of its intention to call industrial action. The primary claim was the transfer of the teachers’ payroll budget from the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) to the Teaching Service Commission (TSC).
June 6, 2024: Industrial action (strike) by teachers began nationwide.
June 17, 2024: An “Undertaking Agreement” was signed between the MOET, TSC, and VTU for 14 days, with the VTU agreeing to provide claims for verification. This led to the strike being temporarily called off on June 18, 2024, with teachers resuming classes. The agreement aimed for a tripartite agreement and a payment plan.
June 26, 2024: The VTU provided the first log of claims to TSC and MOET for verification and assessment.
July 8, 2024: The Undertaking Agreement was extended as negotiations were not completed.
July 24, 2024: The second log of claims was provided by the VTU.
July 29, 2024: The amount of claims provided by the VTU reportedly dropped during the verification process. TSC and MOET provided justification, and all parties reportedly understood and agreed to a quantum of claims around VT 4 billion (a significant reduction from initial claims of VT 17-20 billion).
August 5, 2024: VTU, TSC, and MOET taskforces met for a final review of claims for the CBA and payment plan. However, the VTU disagreed with the reduced amount (VT 4 billion), stating they were mandated to maintain the VT 21 billion claim but failed to provide justification.
August 10, 2024: The VTU recalled the industrial action (strike) after negotiations failed to resolve the dispute over the claim amount. Over 600 teachers participated in this renewed strike.
November 2024: The Teaching Service Commission (TSC) began terminating some of the 600 suspended teachers who participated in the strike. VTU filed a stay order to challenge these suspensions and terminations.
November 12, 2024: The VTU advocated for a compassionate pass for students affected by the ongoing 100-day strike, citing unresolved issues.
November 26, 2024: About 10 teachers were terminated by the TSC, leading to court proceedings.
December 3, 2024: The Supreme Court of Vanuatu ruled in favor of VTU members (teachers) who had been suspended or terminated, directing the TSC to pay them back salaries, finding that most teachers had been unjustly removed without proper procedure.
February 6, 2025: The TSC reaffirmed its stance that the government does not require a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to be signed with the VTU. The VTU, however, insisted all parties must sign a CBA.
February 24, 2025: Minister Simil Johnson stated that over VT 500 million for teachers’ substantiated claims had been paid so far, part of a plan with an initial payout of over VT 800 million from a total budget of VT 4.25 billion approved by the Council of Ministers. He mentioned the VTU walked out during CBA negotiations, leading the government to proceed with verification and payments.
March 3, 2025: More than 600 striking teachers were still off work since mid-2024, campaigning for outstanding entitlements. A case to determine the legality of the strike was before the courts.
March 19, 2025: The MOET reported progress on teacher claims payments, stating that out of 4,812 claims submitted, 896 (18.6%) were verified as legal claims. VT 529,601,817 had been paid across 591 claims, with 305 outstanding. The remaining 3,916 claims were confirmed unsubstantiated.
May 30, 2025: The Supreme Court quashed the Teaching Service Commission’s decision to suspend and terminate over 600 teachers for participating in the strike. The court declared that the industrial action, which started on June 6, 2024, and was recalled on August 10, 2024, remains lawful.
June 5, 2025 (Current Period): The Vanuatu government announced its decision to appeal the Supreme Court’s ruling on the legality of the strike. The VTU welcomed the appeal. More than 600 teachers faced disciplinary action and had not taught for the past year. The government assured its commitment to settling all legally owed dues to teachers, stating that claims submitted were verified as of May 31, with payments being processed (close to VT 2 billion paid so far). The government noted that a large majority of initial claims (VT 17-20 billion) could not be assessed due to lack of proper justification/documentation. Minister Johnson urged teachers not listed in the court judgment to refrain from joining the strike.
June 6, 2025 (Current Period): Education Minister Simil Johnson reiterated that the government is not in a position to sign a CBA with the VTU, stating the government is “no longer pursuing the signing of a CBA” because the union walked out of past discussions multiple times. He advised teachers not to join the strike if their claims are not verified, warning of serious action. He confirmed ongoing verification and payments.

This timeline illustrates a complex and prolonged dispute involving legal challenges, government appeals, ongoing strikes, and unresolved issues surrounding the teachers’ entitlements.

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