THE ATENEO Employees and Workers Union (AEWU) is officially on strike.

The Union made this decision on February 21, after marathon negotiations on the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) failed to come to an agreement at Xavier Hall. Union members camped out at Bellarmine Field in a “show of force” to support the Union representatives negotiating with the administration.

The marathon negotiations began on February 20. According to AEWU President Sonny Amata, talks extended until 4:00 AM of February 21. The strike officially began at 5:00 AM.

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello has invited AEWU and the administration for another negotiation at the DOLE headquarters at 5:00 PM.

One last provision

On the evening of February 20, AEWU Board of Directors member Boyet Digos said there were only two provisions of the CBA which were still being negotiated on: the calibration of merit increases, and salary caps.

The following morning as the strike had begun, Amata said that the Union gave into the administration’s offer for the salary cap.

However, the calibration on merit increases was not agreed upon during the negotiations. According to an infographic released by the administration on the day of the strike, the disparity between the Union’s demand and the administration’s offer for merit increases is 0.5%, at 6% and 5.5% respectively.

As the CBA must be agreed upon as a “package,” it cannot be enforced even if only one provision remains pending.

On the morning of the strike, AEWU members mobilized at the gates of Ateneo with posters and signages proclaiming that they are on strike.

‘Mass action’

At 1:00 PM, the Union gathered in front of Xavier Hall to stage what they called a “mass action.” The Union members called on the administration to be more truthful when they come face to face again in the upcoming negotiations at DOLE.

“Kung makikipag-usap kayo, ‘wag niyo na kaming paghintayin, lokohin, at tarantaduhin (If you are going to talk to us, don’t make us wait and fool us),” said Amata.

“‘Yung paulit ulit na nangyayari na walang nare-resolve, maging totoo naman sana kayo sa inyong mga pananalita. ‘Wag niyo na paikutin ang mga numero (With the repetitive negotiations which never reach resolutions, we hope you become truthful with your words. Stop playing with the numbers),” he added.

University President Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ said that the administration is still open to negotiation. He reported that the administration has no plans of conducting a lockout, or a temporary denial of employment.

“I don’t want to lock out people, [but at the same time,] our hands are tied. [Employees] can be disbarred by the union [for coming to work], since the union can impose a sanction [on those who do not want to join the strike],” he said.

“This is a teaching moment. Let’s learn and try to get both sides of why is it difficult to bring these two sides together,” he added.

‘Just wages’ discussed in TALAB talk

As the strike commenced the same day as the Talakayang Alay sa Bayan (TALAB), several students brought up questions about the CBA negotiations during the TALAB talk ‘What is a just wage?’ One student asked about how long the administration is expecting the strike to take place.

CBA Administration Panel Chairperson Jose Mario Francisco, SJ said that the University is committed to resolving the issue as soon as possible.

“What is important between all stakeholders in any company is real dialogue. It is through real dialogue that the common good is precisely arrived at,” he said.

John Gokongwei School of Management Representative Alec Lim also talked about how the community can help the Union during the time of strike.

“What we can do is to really be informed of the issue, understand where both sides are coming from. We students are stakeholders too. It’s not just we just wait here and watch, but it’s also very possible for us to suggest how this negotiation can go forward,” he said.

Lim also mentioned plans of the Sanggunian to hold a humanitarian aid project. “It’s also possible for us to show support in terms of humanitarian action. They are not getting paid, [so we can] show action for this. Let’s try to help out with this.”

Amid the strike

Villarin released a memo assuring the community that classes and university operations will not be disrupted, and that contingency plans are in place.

Meanwhile, the Sanggunian also released a memo with guidelines for students during the strike, such as keeping classrooms clean, and reducing waste, as the maintenance staff comprises most of AEWU.

“Although classes will continue, we cannot remain unbothered and unaffected by the results of the negotiations,” it said.