Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has instructed Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro to convene a meeting of the University of the South Pacific (USP) Council to discuss the claims presented by the USP Staff unions.
In a statement on social media, Rabuka noted that the Association of USP Staff and the USP Staff Union are adhering to the protocols established in the Employment Relations Act 2007 concerning strike actions.
As the fifth day of the strike by USP unions concludes without a resolution, the Prime Minister mentioned that all student support services at the USP Laucala Campus continue to function normally, facilitated by staff members who are either not part of the union or have opted not to strike.
Earlier in the day, Opposition Leader Inia Seruiratu urged the Government to take concrete actions to resolve the impasse between USP and the two staff unions. He emphasized that the Government cannot afford to be passive while the future of students and the region hangs in the balance and asserted that strong leadership is necessary.
Seruiratu also called for the immediate suspension of Vice-Chancellor and USP President Professor Pal Ahluwalia to facilitate investigations into the unions’ demands, highlighting the seriousness of the situation, particularly as it coincides with the upcoming assessment period for USP students.