UST FACULTY members will vote online on Sept. 14 to 16 on a long-delayed collective bargaining agreement (CBA) providing for hikes in salaries and benefits.
UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. and UST Faculty Union President Dr. George Lim on Sept. 2 led the signing of the new agreement that covers the 1,900-strong faculty for the years 2016 to 2021.
In a joint statement, the administration and union panels said the welfare of both the academic staff and the University was at the center of negotiations that began in June, taking into consideration “the institution’s dynamic context as it continues to adapt to the changing landscape of education to sustain the delivery of excellent quality education for its students.”
On Aug. 27, Lim said in a letter to union members that the new CBA would only focus on economic provisions and set aside political issues, citing the preference of the majority of more than 700 faculty who responded to a survey.
He also warned that non-ratification of the new CBA would mean more delays in hikes in salaries and benefits.
Under the new CBA, the salary increase per unit regardless of rank is P64.29 for Academic Year (AY) 2017-2018 and P59.82 for AY 2018-2019.
Other benefits like birthday and goodwill bonuses, medical cash allowance, emergency loans, rice in kind and in cash, annual distribution of goods based on years of service, and loyalty gift upon retirement also increased compared with the 2011-2016 CBA.
Transportation allowances, mid-year bonuses and meal allowances were included in the 13th month pay.
Faculty members will also be given hospitalization and medical assistance, as well as a “pandemic assistance” of P10,000 amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
A CBA is a contract executed between an employer and a labor union that lays down the terms and conditions of employment, such as pay, working hours and benefits.
The last CBA was ratified by the faculty in 2014, after a deadlock was broken through backchannel talks.
