(FILE) Unionized faculty members attended the annual general assembly of the UST Faculty Union in October 2023.

UST faculty members pining for salary increases amid rising prices will have to wait a little longer.

The University has denied the UST Faculty Union’s (USTFU) request for the immediate release of teachers’ share of tuition increases, saying this must be negotiated under a collective bargaining agreement (CBA). 

Schools are required by law to allot at least 70% of tuition increases to salaries, wages, allowances, and other benefits of teaching and non-teaching personnel. 

UST however argued that the disbursement of the amount follows rules set by the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd), which it claimed requires a CBA, a contract that spells out the terms and conditions of work negotiated by labor and management. 

“While we deeply value our academic staff and respect their right to voice their concerns, it is important to emphasize that the release of these funds is bound by the regulations set forth in CMO No. 8, Series of 2012 issued by the [CHEd],” a statement posted Oct. 15 read. 

The CHEd memorandum referred to by UST states that tuition increases must “be used for the benefit of teaching and non-teaching personnel and other staff…including such increases as may have been provided for in the [CBA].” 

Delayed CBA

But the CBA talks covering 2021 to 2026 have long been delayed, meaning salaries have not been increased for years and faculty have been left suffering from inflationary pressures.

In contrast, UST has signed new CBAs with hospital staff (June 2022) and University support staff (May 2024).

One of the contentious issues is USTFU’s demand for better health benefits.

Faculty CBA talks have often been delayed. The 2011-2016 CBA was ratified by the faculty only in 2014, after a deadlock was broken through backchannel talks, while the 2016-2021 CBA was only ratified in September 2020.

RELATED: 2% progress: UST, faculty still far from signing new collective bargaining deal

Union negotiators argued in an Oct. 3 petition to the Rector that faculty members are entitled to the amount even if labor unions or CBAs did not exist in UST.

The six members of the union’s CBA panel called on Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. to approve the release of faculty’s tuition shares from 2020 to 2024 amid CBA talks. 

“We genuinely believe that this request is not only lawful but also just and moral. Prolonging the withholding of the [tuition increase] share due to delays in negotiations would only exacerbate the financial strain on our faculty members, given the current inflationary pressures,” the panel said. 

The panel argued that releasing the amount is consistent with UST’s Certificate of Compliance submitted to CHEd, which states that tuition hikes are “being used for the payment of increase in salaries, wages, allowances and other benefits of its teaching and non-teaching personnel.” 

“[I]t is also clear that the moment UST charges additional tuition fees from its students, the 70% of such [tuition increase] is already due and demandable by the teaching and non-teaching personnel – even without the benefit of collective bargaining negotiations,” the petition read. 

“In fact, UST is still liable by law to distribute the 70% [tuition increase] share to its employees even without a labor union or CBA,” it stressed. 

Historical precedent

The bargaining panel cited historical precedent from 1995, when Rector Fr. Rolando de la Rosa, O.P. approved the release of the faculty’s share of tuition hikes before the CBA was completed.

“We are confident that under your leadership, the UST administration would similarly act with compassion and fairness, not seeking to use the [tutiion increase] share as leverage during negotiations. We trust that you have no such intention,” the panel told Ang. 

The USTFU panel also suggested that certain provisions, such as hospitalization benefits, the P26-million rank upgrade, and signing bonuses, be excluded from the computation as they still required negotiation or clarification.

In response to the petition, UST reaffirmed its commitment to cooperate with USTFU for the swift conclusion of the CBA negotiations.

“The University is committed to working in good faith with USTFU to expedite the negotiations and come to an agreement that is fair and beneficial for all parties involved,” it said. “However, until such negotiations are finalized, we must adhere to the legal guidelines and requirements established by CHEd.” 

On Oct. 15, UST released P8 million in long-delayed interest on the faculty’s share of tuition increases, covering the years 2016 to 2021. This interest is separate from the tuition share being requested by the USTFU panel. S.V.V. Berba

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