The University of Santo Tomas Faculty Union (USTFU) trooped to the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) office of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Intramuros, Manila on March 25 to file a notice of strike. The deadlock in the negotiations with the administration on its collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for 2021-2026 prompted the union to file the notice before the agency.

It can be recalled that on March 14, the union declared a deadlock due to the administration’s unacceptable offers. It has been a year since the union started negotiating for its CBA.

The USTFU’s demands include 100% health benefits for all union members, higher budget for promotions, Christmas bonus, longevity pay, additional vacation days, granting of 11th and 12th month pay for professors, and more.

The union also call for the immediate release to teachers and employees of ₱220 million equivalent to 70% of the tuition collection for the academic years 2020-2021 and 2023-2024.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT)-Philippines and its chapter ACT Private Schools expressed support for the union. ACT Teachers Party-list representative and Makabayan Coalition senatorial candidate Rep. France Castro also supported the USTFU’s struggle.

“The bravery and resolve of the USTFU signifies the collective awareness and strength of the University’s faculty members in forwarding the rights and welfare of their fellow educators who are bearing the brunt of unjust compensation,” said ACT Private Schools.

They call on the UST administration to heed the demands of their teachers who play an important role in promoting the mission and goals of the university in shaping students who are “competent, compassionate and committed.”

ACT Private Schools members said they are aware of the UST teachers’ difficulties because many teachers in private universities continue to fall prey to the “intensifying commercialization of the education system that prioritizes profit over people, resulting in severe exploitation of educators.”

“It is alarming that an institution that earns billions from relentless tuition increases is exploitative of its teachers,” Castro said. UST’s actions are reportedly even more unacceptable because of the successive increases in tuition and fees in recent academic years.

“At a time when the prices of goods and basic necessities are rising, it is unjust to prevent fair wage increases for teachers,” Castro added.

The USTFU launched a night of prayer and solidarity on campus on March 26, one day after filing a strike notice. Members of the Ugnayan ng mga Nagkakaisang Manggagawa ng UST Hospital and young Thomasian activists attended and joined in their action.