TO stem faculty defection, the UST administration granted another salary increase to its faculty in connection with the 2001-2006 collective bargaining agreement.
According to UST Faculty Union (USTFU) president Dr. Gil Gamilla, the rates of the increase range from eight percent to 46 percent, depending on the faculty classifications, from instructor to full professor. The increase took effect last June 1.
“Actually, we also had an increase last year in the form of benefits. This (recent salary increase) is another way of discouraging faculty members from venturing into other schools because of better opportunities,” Gamilla said.
He explained that the new salary rates cannot still catch up with the rates of other universities in the league of University, but the faculty and the administration are doing everything to make salaries more competitive.
USTFU vice president Rene Tadle said USTFU is seeking to make UST’s faculty salary at par with LA Salle’s and Ateneo’s to stop UST’s teachers from transferring to other schools.
USTFU director Gil Garcia said UST has no choice but to improve salary rates.
“Just last year, 22 teachers from the College of Nursing left because they were given better offers by other schools,” he said.
