USP heartened by Students Association’s support to the VC, strike mitigation actions in place

As the University of the South Pacific staff unions push for strike action and the removal of the Vice Chancellor and President, Professor Pal Ahluwalia, the USP has released a statement saying the University is heartened by the message from the President of USP Student Association, Christopher Siliva, in support of the Vice Chancellor and his unwavering efforts to enhance the quality of education and research at USP.

The University says their primary focus remains on the students, and they will continue to coordinate with the management on potential mitigation strategies in the event of any strike action by the two staff unions to avoid any disruptions to the students.

It has been stated that as major stakeholders of the university, the USP Students Association has been in regular communication with the management, including Professor Ahluwalia, regarding this matter.

USP says it was informed on Tuesday by Fiji’s Office of the Registrar of Trade Unions that approval had been granted to two Fiji-based staff unions to conduct a secret ballot on 'The removal of the Vice Chancellor and President” at USP’s Fiji Campuses yesterday.

The USP statement says it is important to recognise that USP’s Vice-Chancellor and President is appointed by the USP Council, which comprises representatives from all its 12 member countries.

It says at its 96th meeting session held in November last year, the USP Council reaffirmed its support for the Vice Chancellor and renewed his contract for an additional two years.

Vice Chancellor Ahluwalia has recently commenced his new term and has returned to Laucala, Fiji, to resume his duties from the Vice Chancellor’s residence.

The University says it respects that this action on the part of the two unions concerned is being undertaken under the provisions laid out in Fiji’s Employment Relations Act however, USP also notes that with over 1,300 staff across our 12 regional countries, membership of the two unions accounts for only 41 percent of its total workforce.

The USP statement says 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 says the USP management remains committed to constructive and good-faith dialogue in addressing legitimate staff issues within the processes and procedures set by its Council and by the employment laws of the respective member countries.

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 says in the meantime, Professor Ahluwalia, together with the USP Management remains focused on ensuring that the welfare of the students and the needs of the member countries continue to be the highest priority.

The statement says aside from dealing with this regrettable distraction, the Vice Chancellor is leading a number of strategic task forces to transform their learning and teaching delivery to meet the evolving needs of their stakeholders.

It says he is also spearheading new initiatives and developments that are critical for the future of USP and the region – the recently launched Centre for Sustainable Futures is an example.

We are currently trying to speak to the staff unions.

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Lack of staff at USP is a major concern - Fatiaki

Thursday 15 August 2024

By: Mika Liga, Simran

General Secretary of the Association of USP Staff, Rosalia Fatiaki says they already have lack of staff at the University of the South Pacific which is a major concern for them.

Fatiaki says the courses are offered to consultants to teach online and the recruitment of full-time staff is not taking place hence students are suffering because they need staff to teach on the ground.

She says if the University is concerned about the students, they must provide the services.

Furthermore, she highlighted that if the University continues to hire consultants, then the quality of education at the University will drop.

When questioned by fijivillage News on whether they have received any notification from the Ministry of Employment regarding the date of the strike, she says they have not received any date as yet.