Ilima Finiasi, the executive of the University of the South Pacific (USP) Staff Association, has asserted that Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Pal Ahluwalia should resign, with campuses across the region echoing this call. In a conversation with FijiLive, Finiasi indicated that ongoing communication with other unions in the region reveals widespread agreement on the issue.
He emphasized that the challenges surrounding Professor Ahluwalia are not confined to the Laucala Campus but are impacting the entire region. In response, the university noted that it employs over 1,300 staff across 12 countries, and the members of the two unions in question represent only 41 percent of the total workforce.
According to USP, unofficial tallies suggest that approximately 25 percent of Academic and Professional Staff and 28 percent of Administrative Support Staff voted in favor of the motion. The university expressed its understanding that the actions taken by the two unions are compliant with Fiji’s Employment Relations Act.
On Wednesday, a secret ballot at Laucala Campus revealed that 95 percent of USP staff in Fiji supported a strike. The Association of USP Staff (AUSPS), which encompasses academic and research personnel, reported a turnout of 61 percent, with 96 percent supporting the strike. The University Staff and Support Staff Union (USPSU), representing administrative and support staff, also demonstrated strong backing, achieving over 70 percent turnout and 94 percent in favor.
This vote follows ongoing grievances related to Professor Ahluwalia’s leadership, which includes serious governance concerns and the recent termination of AUSPS President Dr. Tamara Osborne-Naikatini, deemed a critical issue by AUSPS General Secretary Rosalia Fatiaki. Staff from USP’s locations in Laucala, Lautoka, Labasa, and Savusavu participated in this vote.
In the meantime, it is worth noting that Professor Ahluwalia’s contract was recently extended for two years, set to end in 2026.