14 February 2014, 11:30 p.m. – NEGOTIATIONS between the University administration and the UST Faculty Union (USTFU) for a new five-year deal on salary hikes and other terms of employment ended in a deadlock this afternoon, less than a week after the two parties resumed talks.
“This is to inform you that the CBA (collective bargaining agreement) negotiations ended in a deadlock. Details to follow,” said USTFU President and union panel chairperson George Lim in a text message to faculty members.
USTFU Internal Vice President Rene Tadle also confirmed the stalemate with the University administration but declined to disclose details until an official statement from the union leadership is released.
Several faculty members wore black armbands this afternoon following the declaration of a deadlock.
“Obviously, [the faculty members] are protesting something. There must be something that they are dissatisfied with in the bargaining table,” said lawyer Jose Ngo, Jr., union board member.
A letter from Lim dated Jan. 27 informed faculty members that the target date for CBA ratification could not be met because UST had proposed changes that “infringe on [the faculty members’] initial basic premise.”
A deadlock is declared when the management and employee panels fail to agree on certain proposals during CBA negotiations.
On Feb. 6, the union and the administration held a meeting to try to reach a settlement, but it ended with both panels going into a cooling-off period that was supposed to last five working days.
The cooling-off period abruptly ended last Feb. 10 after the two panels agreed to resume negotiations, as stated in a letter to the Thomasian community signed by Lim and Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Clarita Carillo, head of the UST administration panel.
The union and the administration have the right to file a notice of strike and lockout, respectively, with the government upon the declaration of a deadlock, according to the Labor Code of the Philippines.
A 30-day cooling-off period is observed and the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) will attempt to resolve the dispute.
Majority of the union membership, through a secret ballot, must vote for a strike. The strike vote must be submitted to the NCMB seven days before the intended date of the strike, during which a strike ban is also observed.
Unlike USTFU, the union of support staff was able to ink a new CBA with the administration in August last year.
The last time the faculty union went on strike was in 1989. Gena Myrtle P. Terre
