THE UNIVERSITY on Tuesday said it has allocated P56 million in benefits apart from the teachers’ legally mandated share in tuition hikes, in recognition of faculty members’ contribution to “providing quality education.”
In a list of answers to “frequently asked questions” about the collective bargaining agreement (CBA), UST said the amount was meant to provide “additional economic benefits” on top of those sourced from teachers’ 70% share in tuition increases.
Republic Act 6728, or the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education Act, requires schools to set aside 70% of tuition increases for the salaries and benefits of teaching and non-teaching staff.
RELATED: UST vows to release P246 million to faculty under bargaining deal
“The University has chosen to go beyond the legal requirements set by. R.A. 6728, mandating the allocation of 70% TFI, which in this case, amounts to P246 million,” UST said in a list of frequently asked CBA questions posted on social media.
“As a gesture of goodwill, the University is providing an additional P56 million to further improve the overall compensation of the academic staff, in recognition of their contribution to the University’s mission of providing quality education.”
This P56 million will be spread across increases in bereavement pay, hazard pay, review allowance, wellness program funding, and the “Dangal ng UST” employee recognition cash awards given to those reaching milestone years in service.
A portion of the amount will also be disbursed as a goodwill bonus, technology support, and hospitalization fund support.
RELATED: Union disputes UST admin’s 8.5% salary hike offer: ‘Inflated,’ far below inflation
UST said the P56 million allocation had been agreed upon with UST Faculty Union (USTFU) negotiators, though there was no final deal because of the contentious P26-million allocation for teachers’ salary restructuring and rank upgrade.
Negotiations on this provision had been deadlocked due to disagreements over where to take funding.
UST wanted to charge the P26-million rank upgrade and salary restructuring from teachers’ tuition hike share, while USTFU wanted it to come from non-tuition hike funds, arguing that rank upgrades are promotions, which are a management prerogative.
Management negotiators argued that the rank upgrade and salary restructuring were used to justify a 6% tuition increase in Academic Year 2023-2024, thus UST must implement the scheme as an obligation to students.
READ: EXPLAINER: Why UST faculty, admin are at odds over P26-million salary restructuring fund
“Allocating these funds for general distribution to USTFU members would undermine the trust built with students and their families,” UST said. “The University remains committed to fulfilling this promise, particularly given the significant impact that a tuition fee increase has on students and their families.”
USTFU President Emerito Gonzales argued that limiting economic negotiations only to the 70% share undermines the purpose of collective bargaining and shows that UST is unwilling to negotiate beyond the minimum required by law.
Admin says bargaining position ‘reasonable’
On March 25, USTFU formally elevated to government mediators the industrial dispute over a new CBA with UST management by filing a notice of strike with the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB).
This notice allows the NCMB to step in and attempt to resolve the dispute within 30 days. If the NCMB fails to produce an agreement within 30 days, the USTFU may call for a strike vote on April 24.
READ: Faculty union files notice of strike before labor department
A request must be filed with the NCMB regional branch at least 24 hours before the vote.
If union members vote to strike, the Secretary of Labor will have seven days to assume jurisdiction and resolve the dispute through compulsory arbitration.
Gonzales said the union was “optimistic” about reaching an agreement with NCMB’s help.
“In the next 30 days, we are optimistic and we believe that the administrators of UST are very reasonable people,” the union president told the Varsitarian after filing the strike notice with NCMB.
UST on the same day said it was not being unreasonable in its position but was striking a balance between providing competitive compensation to faculty and ensuring financial sustainability.
Negotiations have stretched to a year before the deadlock. If disagreements persist despite the government interventions, CBA talks may conclude in a strike or work stoppage as early as May 2.
“UST has always acted in accordance with the law. In fact, its offer exceeds what is legally required,” it said.
“Concessions to demands for economic benefits should take into account financial sustainability to ensure that the University continues to operate effectively while providing competitive compensation and benefits to its academic staff.”
