The University of the South Pacific Staff Association has approved strike action aimed at the removal of Vice-Chancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia. In a four-hour secret ballot that concluded at 4 PM on its Laucala campus, 95 percent of USP staff in Fiji expressed their support for the strike.
The Association of USP Staff (AUSPS), which represents academic and research personnel, had a turnout of 61 percent, with 96 percent of voters favoring the strike. The University Staff and Support Staff Union (USPSU), encompassing administrative and support staff, also demonstrated strong support, recording over 70 percent turnout and 94 percent backing for the strike.
The decision to strike stems from ongoing grievances regarding Ahluwalia’s leadership, including significant governance concerns and the recent removal of AUSPS President Dr. Tamara Osborne-Naikatini, an event described as the last straw by AUSPS General Secretary Rosalia Fatiaki.
Voting included staff from USP’s centers located in Lautoka, Labasa, and Savusavu. The Ministry of Employment supervised the voting process and will soon release the official results along with a formal endorsement. Professor Ahluwalia’s contract was recently renewed for an additional two years, set to conclude in 2026.