USP says allegations against VC ‘misleading and untrue’ – staff demand university chief resign

Professor Pal Ahluwalia has been appointed as the new Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of the South Pacific.
photo: University of Portsmouth

A new round of trouble is on the horizon after the University of the South Pacific’s staff union voted in favour of industrial action to remove the university’s vice-chancellor.

An executive of the Association of USP Staff (AUSPS) at the Laucala campus in Suva Tell local media Faculty and staff unions around the Pacific University campus share the same sentiment.

Ilima Finasi told Fiji Live Australian academic Professor Pal Ahluwalia, who chairs USP’s board of governors, has lost the support of staff.

This week, staff at the university’s Fiji campus voted to strike over Fired last month Dr Tamara Osborne-Naikatini, president of the association.

The union claimed Dr Osborne-Naikartini was fired because he spoke to the media about the chancellor’s contract renewal. As a result, Ahluwalia “launched a vicious attack on staff unions and free speech”, the union said at the time.

US Patents
photo: Facebook/USP

AUSPS Secretary General Rosalia Fatiaki said in a statement after Wednesday’s secret vote that they wanted Ahluwalia to step down.

according to Island Businessat the close of the secret ballot, the union reported that 96% of AUSPS members and 94% of USPSU members voted in favor of strike action.

The union will meet to set a date for issuing the mandatory seven-day strike notice, the local magazine reported.

In response, USP said it “respects Fiji’s action under the Employment Relations Act (ERA)”.

“However, USP also points out that with more than 1,300 employees across our 12 regional countries, membership of these two unions only represents 41% of its total workforce,” it said in a statement.

“In addition, unofficial data shows that voters who supported the proposal comprised 25% of academic and professional staff and 28% of administrative and support staff.”

The statement said management remains committed to resolving legitimate staff issues through constructive and good faith dialogue within the processes and procedures set out by the University Council and member state employment laws.

“In this case, the university is confident that it will successfully challenge the allegations and actions of the two unions, which are partly misleading and partly untrue, under the Employment Relations Act and related legal proceedings,” it added.

Employees protest in November 2023. (File footage)
photo: University of the South Pacific Staff Association

Fiji government says “this is not for the union to decide”

Fiji’s Minister of Education Aseri Radrodro Tell PBS He will hold a “special meeting” on the matter with Finance Minister Biman Prasad when he returns from an official visit to the outer islands.

However, Prasad, who is also the deputy prime minister, said the government would not interfere in the governance of the UP.

“The government is represented on the committee and if we have issues with the governance and management of USP, the committee members will raise those issues,” Prasad said (https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/government-maintains-position-on-usp-saga/). Fluidized bed bacteria.

“Principals are appointed by the school board and there is a clear process for the appointment, discipline and removal of principals. The union has no power to dictate that process or require a different one.”

Prasad said he would meet Radro and Employment Minister Agni Deo Singh to discuss the appropriate course of action.

USP is owned by 12 Pacific governments and receives funding from Australia and New Zealand.

Since Ahluwalia assumed the top post in 2018, the regional university has seen a series of issues regarding good governance practices.