THE UNIVERSITY has clarified that 137 faculty members would receive adjustments exceeding P500,000 before taxes, denying the UST Faculty Union’s (USTFU) claim that a roughly half-a-million backpay from tuition hike shares would only cover 17 professors.
Following a recalculation, UST said the adjustments derived from the tuition increase proceeds from academic year 2020-2024 would be given to 137 teaching personnel with ranks Professor 1 to 5 as of March 31.
“Claims that only 17 out of nearly 2,000 academic staff will receive more than P500,000.00 in adjustments are misleading, inaccurate, and based on outdated information,” it said in a statement released on April 5.
In a frequently asked questions document, USTFU claimed 17 teachers with a Professor IV rank would receive the P500,000 backpay, while the “vast majority [would] get much less.”
The University explained that the updated adjustments range from P314,000 (Instructor I) to P570,000 (Professor 5), adding that the varied distribution is determined by “rank, classification, tenure and workload.”
“A uniform or flat distribution—regardless of distinctions in rank, tenure, or academic contributions—would not lead to an equitable outcome and may even undermine the value of long-standing meritorious service. The University’s approach, in contrast, recognizes and rewards academic growth, length of service, and performance,” it added.
The Dominican-run school reiterated that a signed and ratified collective bargaining agreement (CBA) would be the basis for computing adjustments in the teaching staff’s shares.
“This long-standing approach ensures that the distribution of adjustments is anchored on a final and mutually agreed framework between the University and the faculty union, safeguarding fairness and transparency. In addition, accrued interests are likewise distributed accordingly,” UST said.
“The University remains fully committed to providing a just and equitable distribution of faculty benefits and reaffirms its openness to constructive dialogue in the best interests of the entire Thomasian community,” it added.
The faculty union lodged a strike notice before the Department of Labor and Employment after the CBA negotiations reached an impasse.
The University management has filed a petition for assumption of jurisdiction to allow the labor secretary to intervene in the labor dispute and prevent work stoppages, according to USTFU. F — Rovy Jilyn Fraginal
