The Fijian Teachers Association has expressed strong support for the call to localize the position of the Vice Chancellor at the University of the South Pacific (USP), according to general secretary Paula Manumanunitoga. He mentioned that association members visited USP staff who participated in a union strike earlier this week.
“As a sister union, the Fijian Teachers Association went there to show our support for the striking staff,” he stated. Manumanunitoga elaborated that they were informed about the issues the staff were contesting and had engaged in discussions with the council, affirming their strong backing for the cause.
“We advocate for the localization of the vice chancellor’s position. It is essential that a Pacific Islander be appointed to this role,” he continued. “We understand their current challenges and stand in support of their call for the removal of the current vice chancellor in favor of a Pacific Islander.”
Furthermore, Manumanunitoga indicated that FTA members learned the Prime Minister had declared the staff union strike legal, reaffirming their rights. “They have adhered to all necessary legal procedures before initiating the strike, and he has tasked the minister with investigating the situation and reporting back to him,” he noted.
He also emphasized the financial contribution of the Fijian Teachers Association to the University of the South Pacific, stating, “We are the largest financial contributors to USP, and it is important that we demonstrate our concern. While we do have our own national university, many of us have experienced education at the University of the South Pacific and empathize with the current sentiments expressed by the staff.”
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