University President Fr. Karel San Juan, S.J., along with the heads of Ateneo de Davao University’s (AdDU) four unions and other key signatories, signed the new and enhanced 2024-2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that highlights new economic and political revisions for university employees.

Following the conclusion of the 2019-2023 CBA, the newly signed agreement represented significant improvements, such as enhanced provisions for employees and increased salaries.

“As always, the aim is really to improve what we already have in the previous agreements or previous collective bargaining, and we are happy to say that this is really an improvement… We did not get everything that we bargained for, but what we did receive are the more substantial ones that we had hoped to accomplish,” Preschool and Grade School Academic Teachings and Academic Non-Teachings Employees Union Head Arlene Golloso said.

In addition to service and loyalty awards, as well as salary increases, one of the highlighted benefits of the agreement is the enhancement of retirement packages, ensuring retired employees will receive more comprehensive benefits.

“There are key provisions that we really improved, like improving the retirement package of our teachers. So, we now have a more nuanced and graduated package for those who are retiring. Before it’s only 130-135, so now it’s really 140 for those who will be able to retire at least beyond 35 years,” College Faculty Union Head Hadji Balajadia said.

The college faculty has enhanced premium pay for oversized classes, including research and computer laboratory courses, and will also receive compensation for any work that extends beyond regular hours.

The administration has also granted the employees union the benefit of compressed working hours.

“At least open ang management do’n, na mayro’n nang compressed work week that would not just benefit the NTP but also the administration. For example, kung hindi kailangan papasok ng Sabado, i-compress ‘yung required number of hours in a five-day work day,” Employees Union President Marion Canale said.

Canale also voiced her concerns regarding unapproved proposals that lack management’s counter proposals, emphasizing that the salary increase should not only be the option to compensate employees as the salary increase is not significantly felt by the employees.

“‘Yong increase kasi sa sweldo namin, ang effect no’n sa net na matatanggap ng empleyado is parang wala ring effect kasi ‘pag tataas ang sweldo mo, tataas ang tax, tataas ang contribution mo sa mga government mandated like Philhealth, SSS, PAG-IBIG – ‘pag tataas ang bracket ng income mo kasi, tataas ang contribution,” Canale said.

Canale noted that aside from the salary increase, the compensation allowance form allows another way for employees to fully benefit from their allowances without government reductions.

“That’s why we opted na ‘yung mga proposals sana is in an allowance form, we call that de minimis benefits para mas ma-feel namin.”

Given the varied agendas of each union, attaining balance and reaching a consensus were some of the challenges faced during the process of drafting the new agreement.

“Always the more challenging part is coming into a compromise. Of course, union would want, we have our own agenda, we have our own visions that we would really want to push forward, but of course, the admins have also present[ed] their side of why they cannot give such,” Golloso said.

Balajadia also emphasized the significance of the agreement’s implementation, noting that its long-term effect on industrial peace hinges on the commitment of all parties to uphold the terms of the contract.

“We must be able to abide by the provisions of this agreement. So I think, medyo the challenge there… for me, the greatest challenge is the appreciation and the comprehension of what’s modified,” Balajadia said.

The Collective Bargaining Agreement is a contract signed by union members of the University that establishes the working conditions and terms of employment with the administration.The signing of the Collective Bargaining Agreement was held on September 19, 2024 at Martin Hall, Jacinto Campus.