THE UST Faculty Union (USTFU) has accused the University administration of “leveraging” the tuition hike shares to force teachers into accepting “unfavorable” terms in the collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
The faculty union said the University’s stance that it is not legally mandated to immediately distribute tuition increase proceeds to its teachers is “misleading.”
Republic Act 6728 and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Order No. 3 issued in 2012 explicitly state that tuition increase funds should “promptly” benefit teaching and non-teaching staff, the union pointed out.
“Unfortunately, UST has refused, opting instead to use these withheld funds—approximately [P246 million] accumulated from [academic year] 2020-2024—as economic leverage to force the union into accepting unfavorable CBA terms. Such tactics undermine good-faith negotiations and violate fundamental principles of fairness,” USTFU said in a statement dated April 12.
According to USTFU, the University discounts the urgency for the immediate distribution of the academic personnel’s legally mandated compensation by highlighting the accumulated funds without mentions of extended delays.
“The substantial amounts cited by UST management are not an act of generosity but represent delayed payments, legally due since 2020,” it added.
USTFU said it has repeatedly requested the release of the tuition hike proceeds since October 2024.
The statement came in the wake of the University’s insistence to defer the distribution of the P220 million allocation for the tuition hike shares of the faculty pending the signing of a CBA.
“While some have misunderstood the legal framework, we clarify that there is no requirement under Section 5(2) of R.A. 6728 or CHED Memorandum No. 3, s. 2012 for an immediate disbursement of these allocations upon collection,” UST said in a statement on April 10.
The University also claimed that the show-cause order issued by the CHED is not a sanction or implication of wrongdoing but is part of a standard procedure for the institution to demonstrate its compliance with tuition hike laws. According to UST, the order did not stem from any complaint from the faculty union but was a response to its request for a legal opinion on matters concerning tuition hikes.
However, USTFU argued that the university’s labeling of the order as a procedural mechanism “downplays its seriousness,” and that its issuance signifies “legitimate concerns” regarding adherence to laws.
“As a Catholic institution, UST should model justice and ethical responsibility. Delaying legally mandated employee benefits contradicts core Catholic values and principles of social justice, fairness, and ethical accountability. The CHED show cause Oñorder reinforces these principles by holding UST accountable,” USTFU said.
The faculty union also alleged that the University “exploits” legal loopholes under the guise of awaiting CBA ratification to maintain control over funds.
“Universities could prolong negotiations indefinitely to withhold salary increases from [tuition increases],” it said.
“RA 6728, we believe, intends immediate distribution, not conditional release. This is bolstered by the fact that universities are required to issue a Certificate of Compliance (COC) after they have collected the increase in tuition fees every year.”
On March 27, the University submitted a written explanation and other relevant documents to CHED detailing its compliance or intent to comply with RA 6728 as a response to the commission’s show-cause order issued the prior month.
Negotiations between the University administration and the union with the labor department’s mediation board are still ongoing.
Since the meetings began, three of the CBA’s items have already been settled, namely the benefits of the National Service Training Program, reduction of emergency loan interest from 6% to 4% and the faculty’s 11th and 12th month pay, which is to be renegotiated in June.
Seven requests from USTFU remain pending, including full hospitalization benefits, the sourcing of the P26 million rank upgrade and salary restructuring from UST’s treasury and “genuine” longevity pay.
Meanwhile, provisions on the hospitalization benefits and allocation for rank upgrades and salary restructuring are still unresolved, according to the union. F
