Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has directed Education Minister Aseri Radrodro to convene a meeting of the University of the South Pacific (USP) Council to discuss the claims put forward by the USP Staff unions. In a statement shared on social media, Rabuka acknowledged that the Association of USP Staff and the USP Staff Union are adhering to the strike provisions outlined in the Employment Relations Act 2007.
As the strike by the university’s unions enters its fifth day without a solution, the Prime Minister noted that all student support services at the USP Laucala Campus continue to function normally, maintained by both non-union members and union members who opted not to join the strike.
Earlier in the day, Leader of the Opposition Inia Seruiratu urged the government to take swift action to resolve the ongoing conflict between USP and the staff unions. He emphasized that the government must not be passive while the educational prospects of children and the future of the region are at stake, advocating for strong leadership in this matter.
Seruiratu also called for the immediate suspension of Professor Pal Ahluwalia, Vice-Chancellor and President of USP, to facilitate investigations into the unions’ demands. He expressed concern over the situation’s seriousness, particularly as it coincides with the critical period of student assessments at USP.
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