Professor Pal Ahluwalia has been appointed the new vice chancellor and president of the University of the South Pacific. Photo: University of Portsmouth
A fresh round of trouble is brewing at the University of the South Pacific after the staff union voted in favour of industrial action to remove the head of the institution.
An executive of the Association of the USP Staff (AUSPS) based at the Laucala campus in Suva told local media that staff unions around the Pacific campuses share the same sentiment.
Ilima Finiasi told fijilive that Australian academic Professor Pal Ahluwalia, who is also the USP Council president, has lost favour with staff.
This week, the university's Fiji campus staff have voted for a strike, triggered by the sacking last month of Dr Tamara Osborne-Naikatini, the association president.
The union claimed Dr Osborne-Naikatini was terminated because he spoke to media about the vice-chancellor's contract renewal. As a result, Ahluwalia has "launched a vicious attack on the staff unions and freedom of speech", the union said at the time.
USP Photo: Facebook / USP
AUSPS general-secretary Rosalia Fatiaki said in a statement, following secret ballot on Wednesday, that they want Ahluwalia to go.
According to Islands Business, at the close of the secret ballot count, the unions reported that 96 percent of AUSPS members and 94 percent of USPSU members who showed up to the ballot voted in favour of strike action.
The unions will now meet to set a date for the delivery of the mandatory seven-day strike notice, the regional magazine reported.
In response, the USP said that it "respects that this action is being undertaken under Fiji's Employment Relations Act (ERA)".
"However, USP also notes that with over 1300 staff across our 12 regional countries, membership of the two unions accounts for only 41 percent of its total workforce," it said in a statement.
"Moreover, it is understood from unofficial numbers that those who voted in support of the proposition make up 25 percent of academic and professional staff and 28 percent of administrative and support staff."
It said the management remained committed to constructive and good-faith dialogue in addressing legitimate staff issues within the processes and procedures set by the university council and the employment laws of its member countries.
"In this instance, the University is confident that it will successfully challenge the claims and actions by the two unions concerned, which have been misleading in parts and untrue in others, in accordance with the ERA and associated legal processes," it added.
Staff protests in November 2023. (file footage) Photo: Association of The University of The South Pacific Staff
'Not up to the unions to decide', Fiji govt says
Fiji's Education Minister, Aseri Radrodro, has has told the public broadcaster he will have a "special meeting" with the Finance Minister Biman Prasad on the matter when he returns from official duties visiting the outer islands.
However, Prasad, who is also a Deputy Prime Minister, has said government would not interfere in the governance of USP.
"The government has representatives on the Council, and if there are issues that we have with respect to USP's governance and management, those would be articulated by those members in the council," Prasad [https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/government-maintains-position-on-usp-saga/ was quoted as saying by FBC.
"The vice-chancellor is appointed by the Council, and there are processes which are clearly laid out as to the appointment, as well as the discipline and removal of the vice-chancellor. It is not up to the unions to decide that process or demand an alternative process."
Prasad said he will meet Radrodro and the Employment Minister Agni Deo Singh to talk about the appropriate course of action.
The USP is owned by 12 Pacific governments and receives financial backing from Australia and New Zealand.
Since 2018, when Ahluwalia took the top job, the regional university has had a series of issues in relation to good governance practices.