3 days ago
Vanuatu's Supreme Court overturns decision to sack 600 teachers
Vanuatu's Supreme Court has delivered a landmark ruling in favour of the Vanuatu Teachers Union.
The court overturned the Teaching Service Commission's decision to suspend and terminate over 600 teachers involved in industrial action.
The court found no evidence that the strike, which began in June 2024, was unlawful, despite legal advice initially relied upon by the government.
Justice Edwin Goldsbrough criticised the disciplinary actions taken against teachers while court proceedings were still ongoing and stated that the union was within its rights to resume industrial action without issuing a second 30-day notice.
In response, the government spokesperson confirmed it would appeal the ruling and has not yet accepted all of the claims raised by the teachers or the VTU.
