The Association of the University of the South Pacific Staff Union, alongside the University of the South Pacific Staff Union, plans to initiate a strike against Vice Chancellor and President Professor Pal Ahluwalia tomorrow. This announcement has been confirmed by the AUSPS Office.
The strike arises from ongoing grievances regarding Ahluwalia’s leadership, which includes significant governance issues and the recent removal of AUSPS President Dr. Tamara Osborne Naikatini. The strike will commence at 8:30 AM at the Laucala Campus.
Ilima Finiasi, Executive of the USP Staff Association, emphasized that there is a widespread call for Professor Ahluwalia’s departure from all campuses in the region. He noted that they maintain regular communication with other unions across the region, all sharing similar concerns regarding the Vice Chancellor’s leadership.
Finiasi clarified that the challenges posed by the Vice Chancellor are not limited to Laucala Campus but have repercussions throughout the entire region. In August, the association took a decisive step by voting overwhelmingly in favor of strike action aimed at removing the Vice Chancellor, with 95 percent of the staff in Fiji supporting the decision. Staff members from Lautoka, Labasa, and Savusavu also participated in the vote.
Despite the mounting discontent, Professor Ahluwalia’s contract has been extended for an additional two-year term.