Around 200 staff members and students at the University of the South Pacific (USP) staged a walkout yesterday, signaling their readiness for a six-month strike in protest against Vice Chancellor Pal Ahluwalia’s leadership. The action, orchestrated by the university’s staff union, followed a series of unresolved concerns regarding human resources and administrative governance.
Reuben Colata, general secretary of the University of the South Pacific Staff Union (USPSU), explained that the decision to strike was prompted by the results of a recent ballot and subsequent government intervention, which did not meet the expectations of the staff. “The unions were dissatisfied with the outcome that was released to staff,” Mr. Colata stated. He clarified that the issues at hand were primarily related to human resources rather than the vice chancellor, which was the focus of the ballot.
Colata noted that after receiving a mandate from members, the majority expressed a desire to strike, emphasizing that this action was within their rights and legally justified. He highlighted that the leadership of the university is the main concern driving the protests.
The general secretary addressed declining student enrollment as a significant issue, attributing it to USP’s struggles to compete with relatively newer institutions like the University of Fiji and the Fiji National University.
On the student front, the USP Student Association (USPSA), led by Student Council Chair Christopher Siliva, urged students to maintain their focus on education amidst the ongoing discord. Siliva expressed concern about the misinformation surrounding the strike, which has led some students to support the walkout based on exaggerated claims. He clarified that while some members support the strike individually, the student body remains distinct from the organizing factions.
In the meantime, USP reassured Laucala Campus students through a mass email that all lectures, tutorials, and academic activities would proceed as planned unless otherwise informed by course coordinators.