AFTER MONTHS of revisions, the UST Faculty Union (USTFU) formally ratified its renegotiated collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the University administration after the majority of its members voted to support it on Thursday, June 11.
Of the 2,206 eligible voters, 1,339 participated in the ratification vote. A total of 1,252 members approved the agreement; two were against the deal, while 85 votes were declared “spoiled,” or invalid.
USTFU and the administration started renegotiations in April.
The provisions of the CBA introduce several upgrades to faculty benefits, including salary adjustments for National Service Training Program facilitators and the inclusion of up to five days of mental health leave per year, subject to certain criteria, including submission of medical certification issued by a licensed mental health professional and compliance with other existing policies.
The agreement also raises the eyeglass benefit from P2,500 to P8,000 beginning academic year 2026-2027 and increases the monetary equivalent of the rice allowance from P2,000 to P2,500 every other month.
Faculty members will likewise receive higher St. Thomas Day and USTFU Day bonuses, as well as a one-time technology support package amounting to P10,000 for full-time faculty and P5,000 for part-time instructors.
A CBA is a legally binding written contract negotiated between an employer and a labor union that outlines the terms and conditions of employment, such as wages, working hours, employee benefits and grievance procedures for their welfare.
‘Delay is costly’
At its general assembly on Tuesday, the union outlined plans for an urgent discussion of the CBA for the academic years 2026-2031 to prevent future financial frustrations among employees stemming from month-long labor disputes with the administration.
Reelected USTFU President Emerito Gonzales warned that USTFU could no longer afford to repeat past mistakes, saying that the late implementation of economic benefits left academic staff vulnerable to economic inflation.
“We have learned from experience that delay is costly. It raises the cost of money. It weakens our bargaining position,” said Gonzales.
“When workers come together, when they speak clearly, and when they stand by one another, policies can change,” he added.
The faculty president cited the formation of the ONE-UST alliance of faculty, staff and workers, saying it successfully pushed the local government of Manila to make amendments to the strict annual health permit policy.
Following the dialogue between the group and the local government, Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno declared that educational workers no longer need the annual permit, except in limited cases.
Gonzales also announced that the selection for the next CBA research team is already underway to gather data and engage faculty members early.
He also asked the administration for further cooperation regarding bargaining-related activities such as consultations, surveys, policy discussions, and position development.
“Negotiating the CBA is not a side task of USTFU. It is one of our core responsibilities. And that is why, in my first 100 days, preparation for the next CBA will be a top priority,” said Gonzales.
This weekend, the USTFU leadership will hold a two-day planning session to improve internal communication, update complaint procedures and get local faculty clubs more actively involved in daily union activities. F
