Around 200 staff members and students at the University of the South Pacific (USP) initiated a work stoppage yesterday, signaling their readiness to embark on a six-month strike due to dissatisfaction with Vice Chancellor Pal Ahluwalia’s leadership.
The strike, organized by the university’s staff union, emerged after numerous unresolved issues related to human resources and administrative governance. Reuben Colata, the general secretary of the University of the South Pacific Staff Union (USPSU), explained that the decision to strike followed a recent ballot and government intervention that did not meet staff expectations.
“The unions were dissatisfied with the outcome that was presented to staff,” stated Mr. Colata. He emphasized that the issues pertained more to human resources than to the vice-chancellor, which led to the strike decision. During a joint meeting, the majority of the union members expressed their desire to strike, which Mr. Colata affirmed was within their rights and legally justified.
He noted a troubling trend of declining student enrollment, linking it to USP’s challenges in competing effectively with newer institutions such as the University of Fiji and the Fiji National University.
In response to the strike, the USP Student Association (USPSA), led by Student Council Chair Christopher Siliva, encouraged students to focus on their education despite the ongoing disputes. He expressed concern about misinformation that has led some students to consider joining the strike based on exaggerated claims.
“The USPSA wants to clarify that while there may be individual support for the strike, the student body as a whole remains separate from the organizing entities of the strike,” Mr. Siliva said.
USP also reassured students via a mass email that all lectures, tutorials, and academic activities would proceed as planned unless further notice was given by course coordinators.