WITH CHRISTMAS approaching, the UST Faculty Union (USFTU) has appealed to the UST administration to release at least part of the long-delayed share of tuition increases of faculty members serving since Academic Year 2021-2022.
In a letter to UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. dated Dec. 2, the USTFU board requested the release of P50,000 for full-time academic staff and up to P25,000 for part-time teachers. These amounts represent a portion of the faculty’s share of tuition hikes implemented starting 2021.
By law, 70% of tuition increases must go to salaries of faculty and staff.
The union board argued that releasing the share before the Christmas break would provide financial relief and help mitigate tax-related issues faced by the faculty.
“By partially releasing the [tuition increase share] this year, the university can help mitigate the impact on a family’s overall taxable income, ensuring that they remain in a lower tax bracket, which can reduce their overall tax liability,” a copy of the letter obtained by the Varsitarian read.
“The holiday season often brings increased financial demands. The requested amount would provide much-needed relief, enabling academic staff to manage expenses better and have a less stressful holiday season,” it added.
This marks the second time this year that the union board has sought the release of the faculty’s share of collections from tuition hikes.
READ: No collective bargaining deal, no salary hikes, UST tells faculty union
An earlier appeal sent on Oct. 3 was denied by the UST administration, which claimed that the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) requires a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) before disbursement.
In its latest appeal, the USTFU board maintained that releasing a portion of tuition increase — approximately 25% of back wages —- would not interfere with ongoing 2021-2026 CBA negotiations.
The UST administration has yet to respond to the petition. The Christmas break starts Dec. 21.
A CBA issue?
The Dec. 2 petition for the partial release of tuition increase shares was signed by 16 of the 22 members of the USTFU board and was forwarded to the UST Rector the following day. USTFU President Emerito Gonzales withheld his endorsement until Dec. 10.
In an interview with the Varsitarian, Gonzales said his initial hesitation stemmed from the potential impact of the petition on the union’s bargaining power in the CBA negotiations.
“It weakens our leverage as negotiators,” Gonzales claimed, adding that the matter was a “CBA issue.”
Despite his earlier reservations, Gonzales eventually endorsed the petition, citing the board’s decision to push for the release of the tuition hike shares “in the spirit of Christmas.”
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Prof. Revenendo Vargas, president of the UST Faculty Association of the Institute of Religion, was among those who first called on the USTFU board to renew its request for the release of the amount.
Vargas disagreed with the notion that the petition would weaken the union’s bargaining power.
“Hindi naman siya makakaapekto sa ongoing CBA negotiation kasi across the board naman siya,” Vargas told the Varsitarian. “Mayroon pa ring bargaining power ‘yong union kasi malaki pa rin ang pinag-uusapan.”
“It will not deter us from making moves, even bolder moves, kung ano naman ‘yong mapag-isipan ng panel. Hindi maaapektuhan kasi nando’n pa rin naman ‘yong pinaglalaban namin.”
The 2021-2026 CBA, already delayed for three years, has stalled over economic benefits. If the negotiations reach a deadlock, faculty members won’t receive their share of tuition collections until the Department of Labor and Employment steps in and resolves the issue.
Vargas cautioned that delaying the release of the faculty’s rightful share of tuition hikes into 2025 would defeat the purpose of the appeal.
“We are expecting, if it is approved, it should be released before the end of the year,” he said. “‘Pag tumawid siya ng 2025, ‘yong P50,000 na ‘yon, useless na ‘yong hinihingi namin na tax impact.”
