The Association of the University of the South Pacific Staff (AUSPS) is urging for an immediate leadership change at the institution. This demand was made by AUSPS general secretary Rosalia Fatiaki during a press briefing following a secret ballot regarding potential strike action at the Laucala Campus.
Fatiaki expressed her discontent with the actions of Professor Pal Ahluwalia, the vice-chancellor and president of USP. This demand for a change in leadership comes in the wake of recent controversies, including the dismissal of biology lecturer Dr. Tamara Osborne-Naikatini. Dr. Osborne-Naikatini was terminated over claims of “gross conduct” after she allegedly shared confidential information about Prof. Ahluwalia’s contract renewal in an interview with Islands Business magazine. Furthermore, Fatiaki mentioned that the AUSPS has unresolved issues concerning salary adjustments and the fair treatment of staff.
The current push for action follows a union meeting held weeks earlier in which members voted to seek a strike. “Today we have the approval for a secret ballot, and if we receive a mandate concerning the removal of the vice chancellor and president of USP, we will outline our next steps,” Fatiaki stated.
To initiate strike action, more than 50 percent of the union’s Fiji-based members, totaling 560, must be in favor. Fatiaki emphasized, “We expected better; the union has persistently attempted to engage with management to resolve these issues, but it feels like we are speaking to a wall.”
The AUSPS is currently awaiting a reply from the Education Minister, to whom a letter was dispatched nearly two weeks ago.