The Association of USP Staff and the USP Staff Union announced that approximately 95 percent of their members voted in favor of strike action aimed at the removal of Vice Chancellor and President Professor Pal Ahluwalia.
Today, the two staff unions conducted a secret ballot across campuses in Fiji following the Ministry of Employment’s approval for a “Notice of Intention to Conduct Secret Ballot for Strike Action” received yesterday.
The unions plan to gather later this week to determine their next steps and set a date for the strike.
The AUSPS has accused Professor Ahluwalia of unjustly terminating the employment of Dr. Tamara Osborne-Naikatini, the President of the Association.
Both staff unions required at least 50 percent of their members to support the strike action. AUSPS General Secretary Rosalia Fatiaki criticized the Vice Chancellor’s decision to dismiss the association president, asserting that natural justice was not upheld.
“We have forwarded a letter to the Council to express our concerns, as they are the university’s ultimate decision-making body,” she stated.
USPSU President Reuben Colata reported that staff turnover is increasing and workloads are escalating, negatively impacting teaching and learning conditions.
“Staff are dissatisfied with the direction of the university’s leadership, and what we’ve observed over the past few years is the institution is deteriorating,” he commented.
This marks the first instance in the university’s history where staff union members have called for two strike actions within a span of six months.