USP Terminates Work Contract of Staff Union President

The Association of University of the South Pacific Staff (AUSPS) will challenge the university’s decision to terminate Dr Tamara Osborne-Naikatini from her role as a lecturer in Biology in the university and simultaneously as the president of the AUSPS.

Dr Tamara’s contract was terminated effective July 12 by Vice-Chancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia.

The decision has not rested well with staff association members who have labelled the termination as a vicious attack by the Vice-Chancellor of USP on the staff unions and freedom of speech at USP.

The university issued a termination letter citing reasons of gross misconduct.

The university’s claim of `gross misconduct’ stems from information Dr Osborne-Naikatini allegedly shared, as AUSPS president, in an Islands Business interview reported in the March 2024 edition that revealed a flawed process in the review of the performance of the Vice-Chancellor and President (VCP), Professor Pal Ahluwalia that subsequently led to a two-year renewal of contract.

The two university unions claimed that Dr Osborne-Naikatini stood for the staff of USP and fought for good governance which ultimately led to her termination.

Dr Osborne-Naikatini was the staff representative on Senate to the Review Committee.

Islands Business May 2024 edition then informed the regional public of the charges against Dr Osborne-Naikatini (USP Problems Fester behind Veil of Silence: 19-21).

“The current USP Discipline Regulations place the Vice-Chancellor and President as both judge and jury which in this instance is a clear case of ‘conflict of interest’,” the two unions further claimed.

“Senior staff can only be terminated by the VCP. HR is the implementer of the decision.

“In the same, staff have no recourse for appeal as VCP Pal has failed to fill the `Visitor’ position.”

Both AUSPS and USPSU said it would be pursuing relevant processes to address the termination of the AUSPS president which it deemed as bullying and vindictive.

“This is not only an attack on the unions at USP but on the freedom of unions in Fiji.

“In solidarity, we urge our sister unions, NGO and relevant organisations to condemn this action in the strongest terms.

“A joint letter from the unions to the VCP last Friday 11 July called for reconsideration on his decision. The letter reminded the VCP of the 2019 saga where the unions stood steadfast with him when he was victimized as the whistleblower.

“He seemed to have a short-lived memory.”

All attempts to get comments from Professor Ahluwalia was unsuccessful when this edition went to press.

Terminated AUSPS president Dr Tamara Osborne-Naikatini has not made any comments.

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