USP Strike Continues Amid Leadership Concerns

Members of the Association of the University of the South Pacific Staff and the USP Staff Union are on strike today, but the University, the USP Council, and the Minister for Education, Aseri Radrodro, have not made any statements.

The unions are demanding that the USP Council take immediate action to suspend Vice Chancellor Pal Ahluwalia while investigations are conducted.

They are protesting against what they see as poor leadership at the University.

The unions are unhappy with the recent results of a Special Council meeting.

They believe that serious issues were downplayed and labeled as simple HR matters instead of addressing the concerns about Ahluwalia’s leadership.

For months, the unions have raised concerns about the Vice Chancellor’s management, which they outlined in an independent report on his performance submitted to the Council in November 2023.

The unions say they have waited patiently for the Special Council to respond, but the outcome from the Secretariat is unclear and does not properly address the main issue—Ahluwalia's poor leadership.

The University announced on Thursday night that they will work to keep service disruptions to a minimum during the strike.