The University of the South Pacific (USP) emphasized that the appointment of its Vice-Chancellor and President is the responsibility of the USP Council, which includes representatives from its 12 member countries.
In a statement, USP mentioned that it received notification from Fiji’s Office of the Registrar of Trade Unions, which has approved two Fiji-based staff unions to hold a secret ballot regarding “The removal of the Vice-Chancellor & President” at the Fiji campuses today.
During its 96th session last November, the USP Council reaffirmed its support for the Vice-Chancellor and President (VCP), renewing his contract for an additional two years. The VCP has recently started his new term and has returned to Laucala, Fiji, to carry out his responsibilities from the university’s residence.
The statement highlights that the University acknowledges the unions’ actions are in line with Fiji’s Employment Relations Act (ERA).
Furthermore, with a workforce exceeding 1,300 staff across its regional countries, the two unions represent only 41% of the total staff. Among those who voted in favor of the proposition, it is estimated that 25% were from Academic and Professional Staff, while 28% were from Administrative and Support Staff.
Despite these statistics, USP management remains dedicated to engaging in constructive dialogues to address legitimate staff concerns, following the guidelines set by its Council and employment laws relevant to its member nations.
The University is confident it can effectively challenge the claims and actions made by the two unions, which it deems misleading and untrue, in accordance with the ERA and applicable legal procedures.
USP stated that Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Ahluwalia, along with the USP Management, continues to prioritize the welfare and needs of students and the interests of its member countries during this period.