Benguet State University (BSU) employees under the Job Order (JO) and Contract of Service (COS) arrangement raised complaints about their delayed salaries for the past months. They have yet to receive their February wages, while some have not even received their January pay.

This practice has long persisted for JO/COS employees within BSU, but the issue became heated following a meeting between the administration and employees on March 24. The university urged them to sign to an addendum in their contract stating that their wages be subject to the availability of the university’s funds.

The delayed wages has affected more than 600 workers (334 teaching personnel and 346 non-teaching staff) at BSU’s La Trinidad, Benguet campus alone. Many of them have been working at BSU for five to ten years and have come to endure the practice of consistently delayed salaries.

With their plight exposed to the public, BSU was compelled to issue a statement clarifying the matter. The university administration cited the current lack of funds but assured that JO/COS employees would eventually be paid.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT)-Cordillera recognized the courage of BSU employees and staff who spoke out for their rights and welfare, and for the temporary withdrawal of the addendum in the contract. “We unite with JO/COS employees in their efforts to organize themselves to fight against unjust labor practices,” the group said.

ACT-Cordillera urged the BSU Faculty Club to stand up and support their fellow employees. “Together, let us end unfair treatment against contractuals towards ending contractualization at BSU and in all workplaces,” the group added.

The group explained that delayed wages have grave effects, forcing many workers to seek additional jobs as freelancers or resort to loans.

ACT-Cordillera further noted that aside from delayed salaries, JO/COS employees are often burdened with excessive workloads. They are tasked with responsibilities beyond their contractual scope, including extracurricular activities and even research work.

“They are asked to do work tantamounnt to those fulfilled by regular and permanent employees—’essential, continuing, and consistent’—yet they are not given valued,” ACT-Cordillera stated.

In light of this, ACT-Cordillera called on BSU’s administration to act immediately and address the grievances of contractual workers. The university should find ways to promptly pay JO/COS salaries and expedite providing 192 permanent teaching positions with fair and equitable guidelines.

Kabataan Party-list La Trinidad also expressed support and solidarity with BSU’s JO/COS employees in their struggle for a fair system within the university.