đź“·Â The UST Faculty Union has formally filed a notice of strike with the National Conciliation and Mediation Board after a year-long negotiation with the UST management for a new salary and benefits agreement. | The Varsitarian
Makabayan senatorial candidate and ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro expresses her unwavering solidarity with the University of Santo Tomas Faculty Union (USTFU) as they file a Notice of Strike amid the deadlocked negotiations with the UST Management on 11 key provisions including salary increases, rank upgrades, and benefits among others.
“The struggle of UST faculty members reflects the broader crisis in our education system where teachers are undervalued despite their critical role in shaping the nation’s future,” she emphasizes. “Ang pagtutol ng mga guro sa UST sa kakarampot na inaalok ng administrasyon ay isang makatarungang hakbang na dapat suportahan ng buong sektor ng edukasyon.”
Rep. Castro particularly commends the USTFU for their indefatigable struggle for economic demands that are not only just but also address longstanding inequities within the university system. Hospitalization benefits, Genuine Longevity pay, vacation leaves, as well as salary bonuses sadly remain insufficient and even out of reach for many private school teachers despite rising costs in commodities. One of the union’s many fights is their demand for the release and distribution of the PHP 220 million in tuition fee increases between AY 2020-2021 and AY 2023-2024 which is still being withheld by the administration. This is long overdue and symptomatic of the irreconcilability between the administration’s profit-driven interests and the teachers’ struggle for just wages.
“Nakakaalarma na ang isang institusyon na kumikita ng bilyon-bilyon mula sa walang humpay na pagtaas ng matrikula ay nagdadamot sa mga guro nito,” she points out. “The fight for 100% hospitalization benefits to replace the inadequate PHP 100,000 annual coverage is not just about finances—it’s about recognizing the dignity and welfare of those who dedicate their lives to education.”
UST’s prioritization of profit over the welfare of its teachers exemplifies the worsening commercialization of education that transforms academic institutions from centers of learning into business enterprises where teachers and workers bear the brunt of corporate-style cost-cutting measures.
“We call on the UST administration to negotiate in good faith and recognize the legitimate demands of its faculty. Sa panahong tumataas ang presyo ng bilihin at pangunahing pangangailangan, hindi makatarungang pigilan ang makatarungang dagdag-sahod para sa mga guro,” Castro stated.
Teacher France Castro stands firmly with USTFU in their struggle. Their fight is part of our collective struggle for a just and livable salary and the overall welfare of teachers may it be from the public or private sector.#
