A DISPUTE over a single percent may provoke the Ateneo Employees’ and Workers’ Union to hold a strike in 30 days.
This year is the Union’s renewal of their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), where employees negotiate work conditions, hours, and wages, resulting in a written contract. The Union and the administration, however, were unable to reach a compromise regarding wages and the signing bonus.
This prompted the Union to declare a deadlock on August 11.
The Union has filed a notice of strike to the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB). A 30-day cooling off period will follow where both parties are called by NCMB for mediation conferences.
In a statement made by University President Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, SJ, he wrote: “It is our hope that a resolution will be reached within the 30-day period.”
The CBA is revised every three years.
Negotiations
Union President Tobias Tano said that last year, the tuition increase was 6% and Union members were given a total increase of 7.1%. He estimates that for this year, with the 5% tuition increase, the administration is proposing only a 5.8% increase while the Union is proposing for a 6.1% increase.
Tano questions why the administration gave them the raise last year but is unable to do so this year. “A difference of one percent [resulted] to a deadlock,” he said. He added that the Union was forced to bring the matter to NCMB to help them mediate.
The administration and the Union have been bargaining with each other since April 2009. According to Tano, the negotiations went smoothly; the two parties have agreed on the political and social provisions such as allowances, insurance, and leaves. However, they were unable to reach an agreement for the general and merit increases for Union members.
“Walang problema sa proposal. Tinanggap naman yung mga iyon. Nagkaproblema lang kami sa economic [aspect] (There were no problems with the proposal. We accepted the terms. We only had a problem with the economic aspect),” said Tano.
In the Union’s initial proposal, they asked for a 7% general increase and a 7% merit increase or a P60 increase per day, whichever is higher for the first two years. The third and final year would consist of the same general and merit increase or P65 per day, whichever is higher.
Tano said that the administration’s first proposal cited no figures. “Wala silang counterproposal. Nung pinasa namin ang aming proposal sa kanila, ang unang pinadala nila sa amin puro TBA [to be announced] sa rates ng increase (They didn’t have a counterproposal. When we submitted our proposal to them, they countered with TBA [to be announced] in the increase rates.”
On June 15, the administration presented their proposal which consisted of a 2.5% general increase and a 2% merit increase or P40 per day, whichever is higher for the first year, and the same percentages or a P35 per day, whichever is higher, for the second year.
For the final year, the administration presented a 2% general increase and a 2% merit increase or a P30 per day whichever is higher. They also offered a signing bonus of P3,500.
Tano said that the offer is far from the Union’s proposal.
After the initial offer, the Union and the Administration haggled until the final proposals were reached (see sidebar).
The CHED memorandum
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) mandates that 70% of tuition increase go to salaries and benefits.
According to Loyola Schools Vice President Assunta Cuyegkeng, 77% of tuition revenues go to the University’s employees.
For Tano, this means that from the P70.6 M from this year’s tuition increase, P49.6 M should be for salaries and benefits. “Sa paghingi namin ng raise, pinapakita lang namin ang karapatan namin sa P49 M (In asking for the raise, we’re showing our rights to the P49-M),” he added. He added that the Union’s proposal was based on their computation of the school’s budget.
Tano said that based on the Union’s computation, the administration is only allotting P4 M for the Union.
“Laging sinasabi ng administration na ‘ito lang ang para sa inyo. Ito lang ang parte ng Union (The administration keeps saying that only this is your share. Only this is for the Union),” said Tano. He added that a dictated increase, not a negotiation, is occurring.
“Our computation is based on the budget allotted for us,” he said. “Nagsisinungaling ang admin kung sabihin nilang wala silang kakayahang magbayad (The admin is lying if they say that they don’t have the capacity to pay).”
Cuyegkeng said, however, that if the Union members’ wages would be increased, the salary of all Ateneo employees would also have to increase. If that happens, the tuition would also increase.
She said that in computing the tuition for the incoming school year, the administration takes into account how much students can afford, and not what the University needs. “We cannot bloat the tuition… [although] we want to make sure that services are given to the students,” she said.
In the statement, Nebres said that the administration’s wage proposal “ensures the equitable distribution of available funds while keeping in mind the long-term viability of the institution.”
As of press time, Ateneo Personnel Director Imelda Nibungco, who negotiates with the Union, was unable to comment.
Under the radar
Tano said that after the meetings and failed negotiations with the administration, the Union called for an assembly of all its members. To signify their deadlock, Union members are sporting black armbands.
Sonny Toledo, a laboratory technician and former Union officer, however, said that Union members were not well-informed about both sides of the issue. He added that Union members did not know of the negotiations while it was happening.
He said that some members of the Union have branded people who oppose the Union’s decision as “maka-management” to emphasize their disloyalty to the Union. “Support for the deadlock should be a matter of choice,” Toledo said in Filipino.
A source, who chose to remain anonymous, said that on August 20, a memo circulated among Union members. The memo emphasized that Union members should wear the black armbands and failing to do so is a sign of disloyalty to the Union. The same source said that prior to the memo, wearing of the armband was checked regularly.
Toledo remains positive that the deadlock will not last for long. He said the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has the option to release the “assumption of jurisdiction” to stop the strike. The assumption of jurisdiction is an order that prevents ongoing or impending strikes in institutions that are vital to national interest.
Toward a compromise
The Union’s proposal for the general and merit increases is not the only option, said Toledo. He added that there are many ways for both parties to reach a compromise. “Agad silang nagtawag ng deadlock (They immediately called for a deadlock),” he said.
He said the Union could ask for a higher signing bonus or more leaves. That way, Union members still get their due rewards and the administration is not as burdened financially.
“May utang na loob namin sa Ateneo (We owe the Ateneo),” Toledo said. He said the University is considerate with its rules and is just in awarding merits. He said that it should not be a problem to reach a compromise with the administration.
Sanggunian President Gio Tingson said the issue could make an impact to the tuition fee, and the possible strike could affect the students’ working environment.
“I’m also concerned with how many of the middle-class income earners, which comprise a bulk of the school, can still afford the tuition,” said Tingson.
Tingson said that Sanggu’s official stand is to promote peace. “We don’t want to have any misunderstanding,” he added. Tingson has called for meetings with both the administration and the Union.
“We also want to maintain a balance between the Union and the non-Union members in terms of the salary they’ll receive,” said Tingson. Although the Union is not part of his constituency, he said that they can opt for the Sanggunian’s services as well.
Cuyegkeng also said that Nebres and the administration are still open to talk with the Union.
