USP staff going on strike today

Members of the two staff unions of the University of the South Pacific will go on strike today.

Both unions had previously voted to strike in March, citing concerns over pay raises, changes to promotion policies, and the excessive workload of teaching staff.

Five months later, on August 14, the unions voted to strike for the second time, this time calling for the removal of Vice-Chancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia. This industrial action was prompted by the recent dismissal of Dr Tamara Osborne-Naikatini, a mid-career academic and AUSPS President.

At the meeting on Monday, the two unions resolved that long-pending issues had not been addressed.

Yesterday, in an email to all union members, the secretariat confirmed the strike action, which will start at 8:30am today. The staff unions are dubbing this a "Black Friday" at USP.

"This strike is a critical step in our ongoing fight for better leadership at USP. Your presence and support are crucial to making our voices heard," the secretariat said.

"Let's stand together and demand the change we deserve."

The University of the South Pacific Students Association ( USPSA) expressed concerns regarding the staff members' decision to go on strike. In a statement, the USPSA clarified that while some members individually supported the strike, the student body as a whole remained distinct and separate from the organising entities of the strike.

The university, in a statement yesterday, said the strike was over an issue that the USP management considered to be outside their respective collective contracts and conditions of employment.

"During this time, support for our students remains our utmost priority. The university will endeavour to ensure that disruptions to services are minimal," the university said in a statement.

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