The Staff Association at the University of the South Pacific has approved strike action aimed at the removal of Vice-Chancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia. In a secret ballot conducted over four hours and concluding at 4 PM yesterday at the Laucala campus, 95 percent of USP staff in Fiji voted in favor of the strike.
The Association of USP Staff (AUSPS), which represents both academic and research staff, recorded a 61 percent turnout, with 96 percent of participants supporting the strike. Similarly, the University Staff and Support Staff Union (USPSU), which includes administrative and support staff, also displayed substantial support, achieving over 70 percent turnout and 94 percent voting in favor.
This decision comes in light of ongoing grievances regarding Ahluwalia’s leadership, which includes significant governance concerns and the recent dismissal of AUSPS President Dr. Tamara Osborne-Naikatini—a move that AUSPS General Secretary Rosalia Fatiaki described as the last straw. Staff from USP’s centers in Lautoka, Labasa, and Savusavu joined in the voting process.
The Ministry of Employment was involved in overseeing the ballot, and it is expected to announce the official results and formal endorsement shortly. Professor Ahluwalia’s contract was recently extended for an additional two-year term, which is set to conclude in 2026.