Association of the University of the South Pacific Staff in Suva want the Vice-Chancellor out. 18 October 2024 Photo: Facebook / Association of the University of the South Pacific Staff
The University of the South Pacific's (USP) Fiji-based staff unions and student groups want the head of the institution to step down from his position immediately.
The Association of the University of the South Pacific Staff (AUSPS) in Suva began their strike action on Friday demanding the USP Council remove vice-chancellor and president Professor Pal Ahluwalia.
They are continuing their strike on Monday at the Laucala campus, holding placards and banners which say, 'Pal must go' and 'USP leadership in crisis'.
They also want AUSPS president Dr Tamara Osborne-Naikatini, whose employment contract was terminated on 9 July, to be reinstated.
In a media statement on Thursday, the staff unions said they have decided to take strike action because of "ongoing poor leadership" at the regional university.
Staff unions had been raising concerns "for months" about Ahluwalia's leadership, according to the statement.
They claim that their concerns have not been sufficiently addressed by the USP Council and its secretariat.
"[Pal Ahluwalia's] leadership is running the university into the ground," they said.
"The unions are clear: Ahluwalia must be removed as no credible investigation can take place ass long as he remains control of the institution.
"We find it unacceptable that a person under investigation for leadership failures is still allowed to continue in the role."
The USP Student Association has distanced itself from the organisers of the strike, stating that it "is deeply concerned by the misinformation" that has resulted in "some of our members wanting to join this strike based on incorrect and exaggerated claims…".
"The student body as a whole remains distinct and separate from the organising entities of the strike," it said.
RNZ Pacific has contacted USP for comment.