The Association of the University of the South Pacific Staff Union will initiate a strike against Vice Chancellor and President Professor Pal Ahluwalia tomorrow. This action has been confirmed by the AUSPS Office.
The strike is in response to ongoing grievances regarding Ahluwalia’s leadership, including significant governance issues and the recent termination of AUSPS President Dr. Tamara Osborne Naikatini. The strike is scheduled to take place at 8:30 AM at the Laucala Campus.
Ilima Finiasi, the Executive of the USP Staff Association, stated that there is a widespread demand for Ahluwalia’s removal, with support coming from all campuses in the region. Finiasi emphasized that the concerns regarding the Vice Chancellor extend beyond the Laucala Campus and are impacting the entire region.
In August, the association had unanimously endorsed strike action for the Vice Chancellor’s removal, with 95 percent of staff in Fiji backing the decision. Staff members in Lautoka, Labasa, and Savusavu also participated in the voting process.
Despite the ongoing issues, Professor Ahluwalia’s contract has been renewed for an additional two-year term.